A European Union petition demanding publishers maintain the playability of online games after server shutdowns is gaining significant traction. The initiative, aiming for one million signatures, has already surpassed its national thresholds in seven EU member states.
EU Gamers Rally Behind Playability Rights
Nearly 40% of the Goal Achieved
The "Stop Destroying Video Games" petition has secured over 397,943 signatures—a substantial 39% of its one-million-signature goal. Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, and Sweden have all individually met their signature targets, with some exceeding them.
Launched in June 2024, the petition addresses the growing concern of games becoming unplayable following the termination of publisher support. The initiative seeks legislation compelling publishers to ensure continued functionality of online games, even after official server closures.
As the petition states, its goal is to "require publishers selling or licensing videogames in the EU…to leave said videogames in a functional (playable) state," preventing publishers from remotely disabling games without providing viable alternatives for continued gameplay.
The petition highlights the controversial shutdown of Ubisoft's The Crew in March 2024, leaving millions of players unable to access their purchased game. This incident, along with similar examples, fueled the petition's momentum and prompted legal action in California.
While the petition still requires significant support to reach its goal, EU citizens have until July 31st, 2025, to add their signatures. Non-EU residents are encouraged to spread awareness of the campaign.
