Latest news with #SKG
Express Tribune
13-07-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Stop Killing Games petition gains support from European Parliament vice president
Nicolae Ștefănuță, Vice President of the European Parliament and a representative from Romania, has voiced support for the Stop Killing Games (SKG) petition on Instagram, urging Europeans to sign the initiative. The discussion around permanently shutting down games has drawn varied opinions. According to online discussions, the SKG petition has received positive responses from many players. At the same time, organisations such as Video Games Europe and creators like Pirate Software have raised concerns about potential legislative impacts on the industry. For petitions like SKG to be formally considered by European lawmakers, they require over a million signatures from EU residents. While support from those outside the EU is noted, it does not contribute to the signature threshold needed for parliamentary attention. Nicolae Ștefănuță shared on Instagram, 'I stand with the people who started this citizen initiative. I signed and will continue to help them. A game, once sold, belongs to the customer, not the company.' "I stand with the people who started this citizen initiative. I signed and will continue to help them. A game, once sold, belongs to the customer, not the company." Thank you @nicustefanuta ! — Stop Killing Games Official (@StopKilingGames) July 12, 2025 He also stated that despite concerns raised by industry groups regarding development costs related to game preservation, the focus should remain on consumer rights and ownership of purchased products. It is important to note that support from individual politicians does not guarantee legislative action. However, according to supporters of the campaign, this marks a notable step in advancing discussions around the preservation of games in the European Union.
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.
Time of India
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Have fun': Pirate Software fires back after Billy Mitchell says 'Pirate Software will be sued'
(Image via @Awk20000 & @BillyPacMan/X) When Billy Mitchell posted a cryptic 'Pirate Software will be sued' tweet, the internet lit up. Known for arcade world records and equally infamous lawsuits, Mitchell stirred things again—this time aiming directly at indie dev and Twitch streamer Pirate Software. But Pirate didn't flinch. In fact, his reaction was live, raw, and dismissive. Billy Mitchell's Threat: Vague and Unexpected On July 5, Billy Mitchell took to X (formerly Twitter) with a short, explosive statement: 'Pirate Software will be sued.' No background. No details. Just a single sentence laced with legal intent. For those familiar with Mitchell's litigious past, the tweet felt in-character. But for most, it was a curveball with no obvious context. — BillyPacMan (@BillyPacMan) Pirate Software Learns Live, Reacts Instantly Pirate Software, run by streamer Thor, was mid-stream playing Dune: Awakening when the post was brought to his attention by a viewer. At first, Thor seemed confused—thinking the chatter was about Mitchell's hot sauces. But once he actually saw the tweet, his response was instant and unfiltered. Laughing off the post, Thor casually remarked, 'Oh, he's just insane… I'll just send it over to my legal team. Whatever, man. Have fun.' There was no panic, no serious concern—just a creator who's clearly dealt with this kind of chaos before. Ongoing Tension from the Stop Killing Games Campaign? This drama didn't emerge from a vacuum. Pirate Software recently voiced strong opinions about the Stop Killing Games (SKG) movement, which criticizes game companies for shutting down digital access to games consumers have purchased. Mitchell's History of Legal Grudges Billy Mitchell is no stranger to legal controversy. From courtroom battles over his high-score legitimacy to feuds with content creators like Karl Jobst, he's built a reputation for fighting back—often with lawyers involved. Whether this is more of the same or something new altogether remains to be seen. No Lawsuit Filed (Yet) As of now, there's no actual lawsuit or official legal filing against Pirate Software. It's all just a vague threat hanging in the digital air. But Pirate's community, already loyal, has rallied with memes, mockery, and defense of Thor's blunt reaction. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Time of India
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Pirate Software claims being made 'the villain' boosted petition's momentum as Stop Killing Games hits 1 million signatures
(Image via YouTube/Pirate Software) The Stop Killing Games petition has now surged past a million signatures, but there's an unexpected twist. It's not just about the milestone. Jason 'Thor' Hall, popularly known as Pirate Software, the vocal critic of this moment, claims that social media backlash against him painted him as an antagonist, but truly, that turbocharged the momentum of the SKG movement. Such a counter-intuitive argument added a dramatic layer to the fight to preserve access to the purchased games. Pirate Software claims the villain narrative ignited support in the Stop Killing Games favour Pirate Software has directly countered the claims that his critical analysis video damaged the SKG petition. He presented some data and suggested that interest was already waning before he commented on the issue. He further made a striking assertion, saying the campaign gained crucial traction as supporters rallied against him. Hall bluntly stated about social media, "My videos do not seem to have had any impact on the movement at all.' 'Making me the villain did, though," he further added, suggesting that the controversy which surrounded his stance and all subsequent online firestorm that labelled him an opposition, quite seemingly unified SKG supporters. The common enemy effect, in a manner, injected fresh energy and helped propel the petition to reach its landmark of a million signatures. How did fans react to Pirate Software not being a villain narrative? The online response to Hall's claim was a whirlwind. The fans, as usual, remain divided. While some accused him of muddying up the waters, the supporters did defend him and his perspective, with a user noting that Louis disapproved of the pile-on that's against him. The others even acknowledged Pirate Software's value to developers and urged collaborations. The comment read, 'You brought up some good points, and you should work with the movement instead of against it IMO. Developers like you should have a voice in this.' It further added, "We need pple like you pirate,' showing support to Hall. A user even said that they saw many creator videos, and he was surprised how people were not able to relate to what Hall was trying to say through his video. As per the user, he was 'speaking about it as a dev from a dev PoV and simply almost no gamer could relate…' While some followers felt that Pirate Software's impact on the movement was undeniable, despite his denial, others just ignored everything with a one-word, 'Sure…' Not all stood with Pirate Software, though, and skepticism did kick in. There were direct attacks made on Pirate Software. A user on his post commented, 'Just stop man , just stop killing games.' Many X users even saw a broader human tendency here at play. As per their observation, 'People love drama and they love having a villain to hate.' While the other added, 'People just look for a scapegoat when their stupid things start failing.' The idea that Pirate Software became an unintentional catalyst resonated with many. Some even theorized that he was just a convenient target who got in the middle of the drama, due to his firm stand. As per them, people needed a bogey man and they latched on to him. Stop Killing Games is not an easy fight. Beyond all drama, there is the core aspect that was in the middle of the discussion. It's about the petition's core challenge- European Union copyright law. While many legal experts and Pirate Software pointed out that the goal of SKG is to force publishers to release tools that allow games to work offline indefinitely, their stance clashes fundamentally with the EU directives, which protect Digital Rights Management (DRM). The Information Society Direction of the EU mandates a strong legal shield against circumventing DRM, the action needed to preserve many games after they are shut down. Also, the existing EU consumer laws are focused on upfront information and product conformity at the purchase, and not perpetual service obligations. To grant SKG's demand would need a radical and legally complex overhaul of all established intellectual property and contract law hierarchies in the EU, which is far beyond what the petition could achieve alone. The reality presents many hurdles, irrespective of the signature count. It shows and proves that the fight is just far from over. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here . Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
