Stop Destroying Video Games Petition Gains Wide Support in 7 EU Countries

A European Union petition to prevent video game publishers from remotely disabling games after ending support is gaining momentum. The "Stop Destroying Video Games" petition has already surpassed its signature threshold in seven EU countries.

Significant Progress Towards 1 Million Signatures

The petition has garnered 397,943 signatures, representing 39% of its 1 million signature goal. This success has been achieved across Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, and Sweden.

The petition directly addresses the growing issue of games becoming unplayable after server shutdowns or support cessation. It advocates for legislation requiring publishers to maintain the functionality of games sold within the EU, even after official support ends. The petition explicitly aims to prevent publishers from remotely disabling games without providing reasonable alternatives for continued gameplay.

As the petition states, publishers should be obligated to ensure their games remain playable, preventing the remote disabling of games without offering viable solutions for continued access.

The petition highlights the controversy surrounding Ubisoft's shutdown of The Crew servers in March 2024, leaving millions of players unable to access their purchased game. This incident, among others, fuels the argument for consumer protection and the right to continue playing games that have been legitimately purchased.

While the petition still needs significant support to reach its goal, EU citizens of voting age have until July 31st, 2025, to sign. Those outside the EU can contribute by sharing information about the petition.