Gaming petition spreads across Europe

A European Union petition demanding publishers maintain the playability of online games after server shutdowns is gaining significant traction. With over 39% of its one million signature goal already achieved, the initiative is closer than ever to success.

EU Gamers Unite

Nearly 400,000 Signatures Secured

The "Stop Destroying Video Games" petition has surpassed its signature threshold in seven EU countries: Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, and Sweden. The impressive total currently stands at 397,943 signatures – a significant 39% of the required one million.

Launched in June, this petition addresses the growing concern of games becoming unplayable after official support ends. It advocates for legislation requiring publishers to ensure continued functionality, even after server closures, preventing the remote disabling of games without providing reasonable alternatives for continued play.

As the petition states, publishers should be obligated to "leave said videogames in a functional (playable) state," preventing the practice of remotely disabling games without offering viable solutions for continued access.

The petition cites the controversial shutdown of Ubisoft's The Crew in March 2024 as a prime example. Despite a substantial player base (estimated at 12 million worldwide), server issues and licensing problems led Ubisoft to shut down the game, erasing player progress and sparking outrage, including legal action in California.

While the petition still needs a substantial number of signatures to reach its goal, EU citizens of voting age have until July 31st, 2025, to add their support. Although non-EU citizens can't sign, they can help spread awareness and encourage participation.