Latest news with #RossScott
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Stop Killing Games movement mysteriously accused of violating EU transparency laws; Ross Scott responds
(Image via @Accursed_Farms/YouTube) A viral campaign to stop publishers from deleting games has found itself in an unexpected spotlight this week. The Stop Killing Games movement, known for its bold stance on digital ownership, is facing allegations that it violated EU transparency rules, claims that have since sparked both outrage and support across Europe's gaming community. Mysterious complaint targets unpaid work by popular campaign figure Ross Scott On Thursday, July 18, 2025, social media started buzzing after reports emerged that the European Commission received a quiet but serious complaint targeting the Stop Destroying Video Games Initiative, the official EU-facing campaign aligned with Stop Killing Games. The industry filed false claims against the "Stop Killing Games" initiative The complaint names Ross Scott, widely credited with sparking the movement, as someone who allegedly provided undisclosed professional services worth over €100,000 in labor. But the twist? Scott says he's not even a member of the official initiative, and his work has been entirely unpaid and voluntary. Complaint timing raises eyebrows as lobbying pressure mounts What's raised even more suspicion is the timing. The Stop Killing Games movement has recently gained momentum across the continent, rallying players who want to keep access to the games they've paid for, even after publishers pull the plug. Several MEPs, including Vice President Nicolae Ștefănuță, have expressed vocal support for the cause. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Premium 3 & 4 BHK ( 1079 - 1829 ) from ₹72.03 Lacs* at Jessore Road Srijan Realty Learn More Undo The campaign has also been featured in major gaming forums and YouTube channels. Now, with the legal complaint suddenly emerging, some supporters smell foul play. Scott believes the anonymous move may be part of a coordinated effort to silence the campaign, especially after industry groups like Video Games Europe issued sharp criticisms of his work earlier this year. EU documents may already clear Scott of wrongdoing Interestingly, this isn't the first time Scott's role has come up. Back in early 2024, the initiative reportedly discussed his involvement with EU officials, and no objections were raised then. If proven, that could directly undermine the legitimacy of the current complaint. For now, the EU Commission has yet to respond publicly, and it remains unclear whether a formal investigation will follow. Whether this complaint fizzles out or escalates further, one thing's certain; the fight to preserve digital games just got a lot more political. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Pirate Software loses more than 100,000 YouTube subscribers after Stop Killing Games controversy
(Image via @PirateSoftware/YouTube) Popular game developer and YouTube creator Pirate Software has lost over 100,000 subscribers in just two weeks. The steep decline comes in the wake of growing outrage over his perceived opposition to the Stop Killing Games (SKG) movement, a campaign advocating against companies shutting down online games players have paid for. The Fallout Begins The sharp drop began in late June 2025. That's when Ross Scott, the creator of the Accursed Farms YouTube channel and founder of the SKG initiative, released a fiery video titled The End of Stop Killing Games . In it, he directly called out Pirate Software (real name: Jason Thor Hall) for misrepresenting the movement in an earlier 2023 video. Scott's message landed hard. His audience is passionate gamers who've rallied around the SKG cause and quickly mobilised. They felt Pirate had downplayed the campaign's core message: preserving digital game ownership and fighting corporate shutdowns of single-player games. The internet, as expected, responded swiftly. Subscriber Count Tanks According to data from Social Blade, Pirate Software's channel has shed over 110,000 subscribers between June 26 and July 9. The decline peaked on June 26, with a staggering 20,000 lost in a single day. And the numbers haven't stopped dipping since. While some creators bounce back from controversies, the pace and consistency of the losses suggest a deeper fracture between Pirate and his long-time followers. What Is 'Stop Killing Games'? SKG is a grassroots movement aimed at preserving video games in their original, playable forms, especially in light of publishers increasingly shutting down online servers or removing titles from digital storefronts. The movement recently gained huge momentum in the EU, where it crossed 1.2 million signatures on a formal citizens' initiative, enough to demand attention from lawmakers. Pirate's Response Adds Fuel During a July 4 Twitch stream, Hall addressed the backlash. His tone was defiant, even as he revealed he had been swatted and received death threats. 'I hope your initiative gets everything that you asked for, but nothing you wanted,' he said. This comment further inflamed tensions with the SKG community. Critics called his statement dismissive. Supporters of SKG saw it as a hostile rejection of a campaign that has garnered global support from preservationists, developers, and gamers alike. A Moment Bigger Than One Creator At the heart of the backlash isn't just a difference in opinion; it's a clash of values. The SKG movement has come to symbolise the right to access what you've paid for. Pirate Software's perceived dismissal of that ideal and of the campaign's legitimacy has struck a nerve. While Hall still commands a sizable audience, the trust has taken a serious hit. Whether he can rebuild from this or chooses to double down remains to be seen. One thing's clear: the digital preservation fight just got a lot louder. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Manika Batra's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 3. Watch Here!
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.
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Business Standard
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Standard
'Stop Killing Games' petition gets over a million signatures: What is it
A European petition calling for stronger consumer rights in digital gaming has crossed 1.2 million signatures, prompting formal review by the European Union. The Stop Killing Games campaign was launched in 2024 by YouTuber Ross Scott, following Ubisoft 's controversial shutdown of The Crew—a title rendered completely unplayable, including its single-player mode, after servers were taken offline. The incident sparked concern around digital ownership, with many players realising they could lose access to games they legally bought. Adding to the controversy, players have recently pointed out a clause in Ubisoft's End User Licence Agreement (EULA) that requires users to uninstall and destroy all copies of a game if the company ends support. Though not new, the clause has resurfaced as the petition gains attention, reinforcing concerns about what it truly means to 'own' a game in the digital age. Similar terms also appear in EULAs from other major studios, underscoring how widespread this approach is across the industry. Legitimacy questions and industry backlash The petition, filed under the European Citizens' Initiative—a formal process that allows EU citizens to propose new laws—needs verified signatures from at least seven member countries. Though the campaign has crossed the 1.2 million mark, Scott has warned that some entries may be invalid or incorrectly filled, and spoofing submissions is a criminal offence under EU law. To ensure eligibility, organisers aim to reach 1.4 million signatures by the end of July. Meanwhile, the gaming industry is pushing back. As reported by Engadget and Video Games Europe, a coalition including Microsoft, Nintendo, and Electronic Arts argues that the proposal could increase development costs, raise legal risks, and limit creative flexibility—especially for always-online titles. Studios also claim that allowing community-hosted servers would compromise player safety and expose publishers to unregulated content.
Time of India
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
The 'Stop Killing Games' initiative responds to criticism of its movement from lobbying group Video Games Europe
AllBollywoodCelebscoopHollywoodOriginalsBinge Ross Scott of 'Stop Killing Games' has responded to Video Games Europe's criticisms. | Credit: X The 'Stop Killing Games' initiative has been gaining momentum since the end of June 2025, with the movement's European Citizens Initiative crossing 1 million signatures on July 3. The success of the movement has prompted a response from video game lobbying group, Video Games Europe. The industry group disagreed with the aims of the movement, claiming that 'Stop Killing Games' was ignoring the multifaceted nature of game development, and that implementing the initiative's proposals would make game development prohibitively expensive and increase the legal liability faced by publishers. As a result, 'Stop Killing Games' organizer Ross Scott released a response video where he addressed, and often debunked, many of the claims made by Video Games Europe. Ross Scott of 'Stop Killing Games' addresses industry lobby I think Video Games Europe making a PirateSoftware-tier flimsily reasoned statement against Stop Killing Games while having all these infamously anti-consumer companies directly involved with them says a lot. This is exactly why Stop Killing Games needs to succeed. — Rin | 凛 (@TheIshikawaRin) July 7, 2025 Ross Scott's video went over the statement released by Video Games Europe, and in doing so, he pointed out areas of agreement, and areas where he believed the industry group was being deceptive or misleading. Ross stated that if anything, this response from Video Games Europe meant that movement was actually having an impact. Ross was also unsurprised that Video Games Europe opposed the initiative, as he believed that the industry group was driven by business interests who did not care about game preservation and instead wanted to maximize their bottom line, unlike actual game developers and fans. When it came to Video Games Europe saying that publishers had a right to discontinue online games, Ross agreed. He simply wanted to give others the ability to archive discontinued or unsupported games. Later arguments from Video Games Europe, however, drew a harsher response as he believed they were made in bad faith. Ross pushes back on many of Video Games Europe's claims The first major claim Ross took issue with was the idea that game publishers would be held legally liable if they ever allowed third parties to modify their games. Ross had a hard time believing such an eventuality couldn't be addressed in an End User License Agreement (EULA). Another argument Ross argued against was the idea that developing online titles with the regulations 'Stop Killing Games' was suggesting would make the process prohibitively expensive. Ross pointed out that a lot of the expenses incurred in online game development were the result of incorporating micro-services and platform integrations that could be done away with without rendering the game unplayable. Ross also argued that since the proposed regulations wouldn't be retroactive, publishers could start reshaping their development roadmaps accordingly should any of the initiative's ideas be taken onboard. Ross ended his response by admitting that he wasn't necessarily trying to convince the lobbyists themselves, but rather the average player, who might get taken in by arguments that he believed were made in bad faith. For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. First Published: Jul 08, 2025, 03:05 IST Pulak Kumar is an entertainment and current events writer who got his start with bylines in Sportskeeda and Koi Moi. He's immensely passionate about understanding and analyzing the latest happenings in Hollywood, anime, gaming and pop culture. Read More 8/7/2025 3:17:7
