With Stop Killing Games reaching over a million signatures, what does it mean for the future of game and IP preservation

Time of India

2 days ago

(Image via Getty Images)
The Stop Killing Games movement has finally surpassed one million signatures. It's a pivotal moment within the fight for video game preservation. Born out of player frustration over the vanishing titles, the movement was spearheaded by Ross Scott, challenging publishers' ability to render games unplayable, shutting down the servers.
It's a practice that surpassed outrage among worldwide gamers.
With this consumer-led push challenging publishers, crossing the threshold, the European Commission must address this issue, potentially paving the way for new laws that can protect digital ownership. Here is all you need to know about what it would mean for the gaming future.
Stop Killing Games' one million signatures can be a turning point for digital ownership and IP Preservation
The Stop Killing Games initiative is not just about keeping the old games alive, but it is also about redefining what it means to own the game.
The petition forces the European regulators to confront the gaming preservation crisis head-on. As of now, many titles, especially the online-only titles, become inaccessible as the servers go offline.
Big update on Stop Killing Games!
The Crew shutdown by Ubisoft last year was a wake-up call, proving that even the single-player experiences could vanish overnight, erasing consumer investments and cultural artifacts. Now with a million-signature threshold, it's guaranteed to have a formal EU review, which would potentially reshape the digital ownership laws.
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Stop Killing Games And The Future Of Video Game Preservation
The Stop Killing Games petition argues that consumers have the right to retain all access to games they have purchased. If this becomes successful, legislative action can mandate publishers to provide offline switches or private server options before a game shuts down. Quite crucially, it will reframe games as the lasting products and not some disposable services—label the game as a license or product at purchase.
For now, publishers have control over the game IP. It allows them to shut the services just as they wish to, without buyers having any legal recourse, but with new laws, it will limit publishers' control. Companies would be required to preserve the playable versions and more.
As noted by professionals, the initiative taps into deeper anxieties as players do not just lose entertainment, but they also lose personal history.
The campaign, though, can pressure studios to design games with longevity and not obsolescence in their minds. Setting legal precedents can ensure that future games remain playable long after the official support ends.
Why does Stop Killing Games' 1 million signatures matter?
To reach one million signatures isn't a small feat. It legally requires the European Commission to consider this petition. For now, the organizers have still not stopped. Concerns over some invalid signatures because of spoofing or errors have pushed the Stop Killing Games campaign to aim for 1.4 million, just as a safety net.
The petition now centers around overdrive mode till the deadline of July 31, 2025, urging all European gamers to fortify the count.
The movement has already gained traction, that's beyond the EU. In the United Kingdom, a parallel petition has already surpassed one hundred thousand signatures. It forced some parliamentary discussions. Even Australia, Germany, and France didn't stay behind. They have launched their investigations into consumer rights violations related to the shutdown of games.
Stop Killing Games' momentum has brought unstoppable ripple effects
Stop Killing Games Was Doomed. Now It Can't Be Stopped
The entire momentum suggests that public pressure is working. Ubisoft, a company that stands at the center of this entire controversy, has already started testing offline models for The Crew 2 and Motorfest. Indie studios like Blizzard (Spellbreak) and Valon (Knockout City) released peer-to-peer/private server tools after the shutdown. It's a sign that the publishers are taking notice, despite the fact that it's not a legal mandate yet, but it has already made the industry's attitudes shift.
California's new law even requires a license, not product labels, for all the online-dependent games. It shows regulatory winds changing, too. Even Steam now has explicitly stated that purchases are licenses and not owned copies. The true victory of the movement is that now, if a game is sold without an expiration date, it must not vanish. Preservation has become the default expectation and not just a plea.
What's next?
With the petition's deadline approaching it's end date, July 31, 2025, this campaign is in the final push.
If it is able to secure enough valid signatures, the EU can introduce binding legislation. It can force publishers to rethink how they design and sunset any game.
For the gamers, this isn't any longer about nostalgia, but now it is about legacy, fairness, and also game's ownership. No one knows if the petition will lead to a change, but it has already sparked global conversations which would indefinitely not fade away any sooner. If you wish to be a part of it, sign the petition if you are eligible, and spread the word, as once a game's gone, it might be gone truly forever.
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