Latest news with #AccursedFarms
Express Tribune
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Pirate Software loses 100K+ YouTube subscribers amid Stop Killing Games backlash
YouTuber Pirate Software is facing massive subscriber losses following backlash over his stance on the Stop Killing Games (SKG) movement. In less than two weeks, the channel has lost more than 100,000 subscribers, according to analytics from Social Blade. The fallout began after Ross Scott, creator of the SKG initiative and the Accursed Farms YouTube channel, released a video titled The End of Stop Killing Games on June 23. In it, Scott accused Pirate Software—real name Jason Thor Hall—of misrepresenting the SKG movement's purpose in a 2023 video. The public response was swift and severe. Between June 26 and July 9, Pirate Software's channel dropped 110,000 subscribers, with a peak daily loss of 20,000 on June 26. The number grows to 120,000 when accounting for the full 30-day range. During a July 4 Twitch stream, Hall addressed the controversy, revealing he had received death threats and had been swatted. He commented on the campaign's success by saying, 'I hope your initiative gets everything that you asked for, but nothing you wanted.' The Stop Killing Games EU Citizens initiative, aimed at preserving digital game access, has since crossed 1.2 million signatures—far exceeding its original goal. With ongoing backlash and continued subscriber losses, Pirate Software's future on YouTube remains uncertain as the SKG movement gains further momentum.
Express Tribune
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Stop Killing Games hits 1M signatures after PewDiePie and Asmongold support
The Stop Killing Games campaign has officially reached its goal of one million signatures, thanks in part to high-profile support from PewDiePie, Asmongold, Jacksepticeye, and even Elon Musk. The movement, launched by YouTuber Accursed Farms in April 2024, advocates for the preservation of online games after official support ends. The site says we have cleared 1 million signatures! I hate being like this, but there's a chance a significant number of them aren't real. That means we have to keep signing in overdrive mode to make up for them! I'll have a video on this later — Accursed Farms (@accursedfarms) July 3, 2025 The campaign is part of a European Citizens' Initiative pushing for legislation that would require developers to keep online games accessible even after sunset. The one million signature milestone, confirmed on July 3, 2025, brings the initiative closer to potentially influencing EU law. Accursed Farms celebrated the achievement in a tweet but warned that not all signatures may be valid, stating, 'There's a chance a significant number of them aren't real,' urging continued participation to meet the verified threshold. Massive traffic following endorsements briefly took down the campaign's website. PewDiePie, in a YouTube post, expressed '100% support' for the cause. Jacksepticeye called it 'an absolute win' in a video on his secondary channel, and Asmongold encouraged EU-based gamers to sign via Twitter. Elon Musk amplified the movement further by retweeting Asmongold's message to over 220 million followers. Big thanks to @Jacksepticeye for helping cover Stop Killing Games! Seeing all these people support the movement makes me feel less crazy! — Accursed Farms (@accursedfarms) July 1, 2025 10 months and over 800k signatures later, the Stop Killing Games initiative is almost across the finish line of 1 million. If you're from the EU and care about game preservation and consumer rights, consider signing this petitionhttps:// — Zack (@Asmongold) July 2, 2025 Elon Musk is on board with the Stop K*lling Games initiative Retweets Asmongold promoting the petition to his nearly 222 million followers — yeet (@Awk20000) July 3, 2025 The campaign's success comes after criticism from Pirate Software, who argued the initiative was vague and impractical. Following backlash and review bombing of his games, he stepped down from his position at Offbrand Games. The milestone marks a major victory for online game preservation advocates and signals growing momentum in the fight for digital gaming rights.
Time of India
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
‘Stop Killing Games' hits 721K signatures as deadline nears for EU petition
The fight to save games from being lost forever is gaining serious support. Popular YouTuber and owner of the Accursed Farms channel, Ross Scott's "Stop Killing Games" initiative has now reached over 721,000 signatures with just a month left before the July 31 deadline. The campaign aims for gaming companies to ensure their games remain playable, even after online servers or support are discontinued. The movement had slowed down earlier this year, but thanks to YouTubers and social media influencers, it's now back in the spotlight. The number is climbing again, and the target of one million signatures doesn't look far off anymore. Why are gamers signing the petition? It all started when Ubisoft shut down online services for The Crew, making it completely unplayable. That was the final straw for many fans. The campaign is calling for a rule in the European Union: publishers must keep games in working condition, even after they stop official support. Today's the #StopKillingGames promotion day planned by the volunteers! I encourage people to make a post with that hashtag. I'm just following orders though, it's safe to label me as a boomer in regards to social media. It doesn't mean companies have to run expensive servers forever. The idea is to remove the need for constant online checks or connections once support ends, so people can still play what they paid for. It's especially important for MMORPGs and online games, which often become useless once servers go offline. Not just an 'EU Issue' The petition is part of an EU Citizens' Initiative, so only EU citizens can officially sign. But gamers from all over the world are spreading the word. A UK Parliament version is also live, aiming for 100,000 signatures to bring it to lawmakers. The time is now, let big corporations decide when to delist or make a game There's also a call for fans in other regions to take action or contact officials. Full details are available on the Stop Killing Games website, including how to help even if you can't sign directly. What's next for the campaign? The deadline is July 31, 2025. That leaves just a few weeks for more gamers to back the cause. The hope is that this push will force decision-makers in the EU to act. And if successful, it could set a powerful example for the rest of the world. The campaign is not anti-business. It simply asks for basic preservation of digital games, the same way we protect books, films, and music. Because once a game disappears, it takes part of gaming history with it.
Time of India
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Sign the petition': PewDiePie backs controversial Stop Killing Games movement as petition nears deadline
YouTube legend PewDiePie has officially voiced his support for the Stop Killing Games movement —a consumer-led fight to preserve digital game ownership. This comes just as the movement, started by Ross (aka Accursed Farms), enters its final stretch, gaining momentum after months of friction with Twitch streamer Pirate Software. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now With PewDiePie urging fans to 'sign the petition,' the campaign might just have found its final push. What Is the Stop Killing Games Movement? Launched by Ross Scott (aka Accursed Farms) in 2024, the Stop Killing Games movement is a call to action against game publishers that remotely shut down games people have already purchased. The movement highlights the growing issue of digital ownership, where players spend real money but don't truly own what they buy. The Pirate Software Self KO & Stop Killing Games Feud The goal? To push for consumer rights legislation, especially in the UK and EU, to make it illegal for publishers to render purchased games unplayable post-sale. Pirate Software Controversy: The Catalyst Back in August 2024, popular Twitch streamer Pirate Software posted a video that criticized the campaign, casting it in a dismissive light. Although he didn't directly attack Ross, the video amassed enough attention to skew public perception of the movement—something Accursed Farms later addressed in a calm, FAQ-style response video. Ross avoided direct drama but made it clear that misinformation hurt the campaign's credibility, which was already struggling to gain traction due to lack of major media exposure. PewDiePie Joins the Fight for Game Ownership Fast forward to June 2025, and PewDiePie has finally spoken up . In a recent YouTube Community post, Felix Kjellberg gave the campaign a huge shoutout, writing: 'I 100% support this movement. It ties in perfectly with what I talked about in my video *ownership over software (and the games we buy).' Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He also noted that while only EU and UK residents can officially sign the petition, global support through shares still matters . A Movement in Its Final Push With the campaign set to end in July 2025 , PewDiePie's backing couldn't have come at a better time. The movement has already seen some support from creators like MoistCr1TiKaL , but the scale and reach of PewDiePie's platform may be the tipping point it desperately needed. Accursed Farms recently acknowledged the importance of getting big names involved, stating in his June 23rd video that exposure—not logic—was the movement's biggest obstacle. The Final Push As Ross pointed out in his latest June 2025 video, exposure has always been the biggest hurdle: 'Our biggest obstacle in the campaign has always been getting enough exposure' He said that people like PewDiePie, Jacksepticeye, and Markiplier could really move the needle. It seems the plea worked, at least partially. With PewDiePie now on board, fans of the movement are optimistic that the campaign can gain enough momentum in its final stretch. In an era where game servers vanish overnight and digital licenses come with expiration dates, the Stop Killing Games campaign isn't just niche—it's urgent. PewDiePie's message is clear: if you believe games you've bought should stay playable, now's the time to act.
Time of India
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
What is the Stop Killing Games movement? Viral clash between Accursed Farms and Pirate Software explained
(Image via YouTube/@Accursed_Farms & @PirateSoftware) At the heart of a growing online movement, Stop Killing Games calls out developers for pulling the plug on live-service games too early. Created by YouTuber Ross Scott (Accursed Farms), it quickly gained support until Twitch streamer and indie dev Pirate Software pushed back. What started as a campaign for game preservation has now spiraled into a full-blown creator feud. Here's what's going on. What is Stop Killing Games? Launched in April 2024 by Ross Scott, the Stop Killing Games movement is all about preserving access to online games, especially after official support ends. Ross argues that when studios make a game dependent on servers and later shut them down, they're essentially selling something with an expiration date… without telling players. It's 'planned obsolescence,' he says — unfair to buyers and harmful to gaming history. The movement has gained real-world traction, too, with petitions in Europe aiming to legally require publishers to offer offline versions or alternatives when live-service titles go dark. Stop Killing Games Pirate Software Calls It Out Not everyone agreed with Ross's plan, most notably, Pirate Software (real name Jason Thor Hall). In a widely shared YouTube video, Pirate Software called the movement vague , unrealistic , and even dangerous to game devs. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like We Can't Believe She Wore That To The Red Carpet Golfhooked Read More Undo He argued that: The initiative is too broad and lacks clear solutions. It creates legal and technical burdens that most indie studios can't afford. It could hurt the industry by setting unrealistic expectations for all online games. Pirate also criticized Ross's suggestion to use this as a political tool, claiming it misdirects lawmakers from more urgent tech issues. The end of Stop Killing Games Accursed Farms Responds Ross didn't let that slide. He later addressed Pirate's critiques in an interview and a dedicated FAQ video, claiming Pirate had misrepresented the campaign's goals. According to Ross: The initiative isn't about keeping every live-service game alive forever. It's about offering basic access to purchased games, even post-shutdown. Pirate's comments hurt momentum during a crucial phase. 'It's unfortunate. I offered to talk with him about it.' Ross said. 'If you hate the initiative, you hate it, but at least hate it for what it is.' Signature Struggles & Blame Game As the deadline for the European Citizens' Initiative approached, only 47% of the required signatures had been collected. Ross claimed that Pirate Software's viral criticism stalled the campaign's momentum. He even uploaded a video on June 23, 2025, accusing Hall of 'lying' and making it harder for the petition to succeed. He said that: 'This put me in a no-win scenario, too, because if I ignored it, then a lot of people would get misinformed about the campaign, and if I did a response video, it would look like drama-farming.' Stop Killing Games... Who Supports the Movement? Despite the clash, Stop Killing Games still has powerful supporters. Big-name creators like MoistCritikal and SomeOrdinaryGamers have publicly backed Ross. Their argument? Preserving games isn't just nostalgic — it's about protecting a digital legacy. As SomeOrdinaryGamers put it: 'If we don't fight for this now, our gaming history might just vanish.' Whether you're Team Ross or Team Pirate, one thing's clear — this debate hits deeper than just two creators. It's about what we, as players, own when we buy a game… and what happens when that access disappears. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
