EU Petition to Stop Video Game Destruction Gains Support in 7 Countries

The Stop Destroying Videogames Petition in the EU is making significant strides, having reached its threshold in seven countries and moving closer to the goal of 1 million signatures. Here’s everything you need to know about this important initiative!

Gamers Across Seven EU Countries Show Strong Support

EU gamers are rallying behind the Stop Destroying Video Games petition, which has successfully met its signature threshold in Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, and Sweden. Some of these countries have even exceeded their targets. As of now, the petition has garnered 397,943 signatures, representing 39% of the 1 million needed to push this initiative forward.

Launched in June this year, the petition addresses the growing issue of video games becoming unplayable once support ends. It aims to combat the problem of games turning into abandonware by advocating for a law that would require publishers to ensure games remain playable even after the official closure of online services.

The petition explicitly states, "This initiative calls to require publishers that sell or license videogames to consumers in the European Union (or related features and assets sold for videogames they operate) to leave said videogames in a functional (playable) state. Specifically, the initiative seeks to prevent the remote disabling of videogames by the publishers, before providing reasonable means to continue functioning of said videogames without the involvement from the side of the publisher."

A notable example highlighted in the petition is the Ubisoft game The Crew, an open-world racing title released in 2014 with a substantial player base of at least 12 million worldwide. Despite its popularity, Ubisoft shut down the game's servers in March 2024 due to server infrastructure and licensing issues, effectively erasing all player progress. This move led to widespread outrage among players, prompting two gamers from California to sue Ubisoft, alleging violations of consumer protection laws.

While the petition has made significant progress, there is still a long way to go to reach the 1 million signature mark. EU citizens of voting age can support the initiative by visiting the petition website before the deadline of July 31st, 2025. Although non-EU residents cannot sign, they can help by spreading the word to those who can contribute to this cause.