A European Union petition demanding publishers maintain the playability of online games after server shutdowns is gaining significant traction. The "Stop Destroying Video Games" initiative has already surpassed its signature threshold in seven EU nations.
Strong Support Across Europe
The petition has secured 397,943 signatures – 39% of its 1 million target – across Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, and Sweden. Several countries have even exceeded their individual goals.
This initiative directly addresses the growing concern of games becoming unplayable following the termination of publisher support. The petition advocates for legislation compelling publishers to ensure continued functionality of online games, even after official server closures.
As the petition states, publishers should be legally obligated to maintain the playable state of games sold within the EU, preventing the remote disabling of games without providing reasonable alternatives for continued gameplay.
The petition highlights the controversy surrounding Ubisoft's shutdown of The Crew in March 2024. Despite a substantial player base (over 12 million worldwide), the game became unplayable due to server and licensing issues, sparking outrage and even legal action in California.
While the petition still requires a significant number of signatures to reach its goal, EU citizens have until July 31st, 2025, to add their support. Non-EU gamers can contribute by spreading awareness of this important campaign.
