The European Commission Rejects Initiative to Preserve Video Games

“I hope the industry listens to gaming communities and agrees on better standards for software end-of-life practices, so that communities can continue to meet and play together. We will take the necessary steps to ensure a dialogue can take place with consumer representatives,” said Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy.

In practice, the Commission’s position once again highlights that consumers typically do not own the games they purchase, but rather a license granting access to them under conditions set by the publisher.

The document notes that EU consumer protection laws do not establish minimum periods during which a game must remain available. At the same time, intellectual property rules grant publishers broad control over their products. As a result, decisions to shut down servers or discontinue support are often based on commercial considerations.

“The intellectual property rights of traders must also be respected. These rights could be adversely affected by a legal obligation to keep video games in a playable state after their commercial exploitation has ended,” the European Commission stated.

The Commission also argues that such requirements could impose additional costs on publishers and potentially jeopardize the protection of confidential business information.

The Stop Killing Games movement said the decision was not unexpected and that campaign organizers had prepared for this outcome. Activists have already announced plans to continue their efforts through the European Parliament by pushing for amendments to the upcoming Digital Fairness Act.

“Therefore, we are calling on the European Parliament to introduce the #StopKillingGames amendment to the Digital Fairness Act. We can move forward without the Commission and its lack of action,” campaign representatives said.

The Stop Killing Games initiative was founded in 2024 by YouTuber Ross Scott, better known as Accursed Farms. The campaign was sparked by Ubisoft’s decision to shut down the servers for The Crew. Because the game required an internet connection even for single-player mode, owners effectively lost access to a product they had purchased.

Further controversy arose after GamesRadar reported that representatives of major gaming industry groups, including Ubisoft, attended a private meeting with European Commission officials two weeks before the decision was announced. Representatives of Stop Killing Games were not invited.

Despite the setback, the campaign has already gained support within the European Parliament. In early June, dozens of Members of the European Parliament signed a letter calling for legislative action.

“This citizens’ initiative enjoys broad cross-party support in the European Parliament. When consumers pay for a game, they invest more than just money. They invest their time, create memories, develop passions, and build lifelong friendships. It is unacceptable that publishers can simply pull the plug on these games at any time while destroying cultural heritage in the process,” said MEP Tiemo Wölken.

At the same time, activists are expanding their efforts beyond Europe. The team is also promoting similar legislation in the United States through the Protect Our Games initiative.

According to Stop Killing Games, the growing practice of requiring a constant internet connection is gradually stripping consumers of access to products they legally purchased once official support ends. Activists argue that this not only harms consumer rights but also leads to the loss of an important part of digital cultural heritage.

“Video games are unique creative works in their own right. Like films or music, one cannot simply be replaced by another. Destroying them represents a creative loss for everyone involved and erases history in ways that are impossible in other media,” the campaign concludes.