No surprise here, right? The Stop Killing Games petition, a gamer-led movement to keep video games playable after publishers pull the plug, is facing stiff opposition from the industry’s biggest names. Video Games Europe, a trade group representing heavyweights like EA, Ubisoft, and Nintendo, dropped a statement on July 4, 2025, slamming the initiative. Let’s break down what’s happening and why it matters to gamers.
The Petition’s Big Win—And Ongoing Fight
Last week, the Stop Killing Games campaign, spearheaded by YouTuber Ross Scott, hit a major milestone: over 1 million signatures, enough to qualify as a European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI). This could spark a debate in the European Parliament about laws to prevent games from becoming unplayable when publishers shut down servers. Think The Crew or Knockout City—games you paid for but can no longer play.
But here’s the catch: Ross Scott says the petition needs closer to 1.4 million signatures to account for invalid ones (like those from outside the EU or with form errors). As of July 7, 2025, it’s at 1.2 million and counting, with the campaign running until July 31. Gamers are rallying hard, but the industry isn’t thrilled.
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Publishers Cry Foul
On Friday, Video Games Europe fired back with a statement that’s equal parts PR spin and pushback. They start with a nod to players—“we love your passion, gamers!”—before arguing that the petition’s demands would tank the industry. Their key points:
- Shutting down servers is tough but necessary: They claim ending online services is a “complex decision” made only when games aren’t “commercially viable” anymore.
- Private servers are risky: Publishers say private servers lack safeguards for user data, illegal content, or toxic behavior, exposing them to legal trouble.
- Game design freedom at stake: Many games are built to be online-only, and forcing offline modes or private servers would make development “prohibitively expensive.”
Sounds reasonable, right? Well, not so fast.
The Heart of the Issue: Do You Own Your Games?
The Stop Killing Games movement argues that when you buy a game, you should be able to play it indefinitely, not lose access because a publisher decides to pull the plug. Right now, you’re technically buying a license, not a product, and publishers don’t refund you when servers go offline. To gamers, this feels like renting a game you thought you owned—or worse, planned obsolescence.
The petition calls this practice “a form of programmed obsolescence” that screws over consumers and makes game preservation nearly impossible. It’s a legal gray area in many countries, including the US, where California’s AB 2426 law (effective 2025) started tackling misleading “buy” terms for digital licenses. The movement wants the EU to set a precedent, ensuring games remain playable through private servers or offline modes.
Why Publishers Are Nervous
Video Games Europe represents the industry’s biggest players: Warner Bros. Games, Epic Games, Electronic Arts, Activision, Embracer, Microsoft, Nintendo, Sony, Take-Two, Ubisoft, Square Enix, and more. These companies profit from live-service models and microtransactions, which thrive on controlling access. A law forcing them to support offline play or private servers could upend their business model, raise costs, or limit their ability to sunset unprofitable games.
Their opposition isn’t shocking—it’s a classic case of protecting the bottom line. But the petition’s momentum, fueled by high-profile shutdowns like The Crew and support from creators like PewDiePie, has them on edge. The Streisand effect is real: the more publishers push back, the more attention the petition gets.
What’s Next?
The Stop Killing Games campaign is a David vs. Goliath fight, with gamers demanding fair treatment and publishers digging in. If the petition hits 1.4 million signatures by July 31, it’s got a shot at sparking real change in the EU—and maybe inspiring similar laws in the US. For now, it’s a wake-up call: when you “buy” a game, what are you really getting?
Want to join the fight? Check out StopKillingGames.com to sign the petition and keep your games alive.
