Latest news with #StopKillingGames
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
What Is Going on with Pirate Software and Stop Killing Games?
Image via: Twitch/Pirate Software The world of digital games is witnessing a public main stage rift and dilemma between two very powerful personalities on either side of this ideological battle: Ross Scott and Thor of Pirate Software, a game developer and Twitch streamer known for his caustic persona. What began as a relatively tight campaign focused on consumer rights within the digital games industry began to get shoved into an uncomfortable philosophical spat about what game preservation is and who has the right to call themselves a game preserver. The Purpose Underlying Stop Killing Games The Stop Killing Games campaign grew from a growing awareness, prompted by popular YouTuber Ross Scott's initiative of the same name, that so many digital games disappear forever when their servers go offline. Sparked in part by Ubisoft's notorious takedown of The Crew in December 2023, a title that included single-player content but still necessitated an online connection, SKG maintains that consumers are being sold games with undisclosed use-by dates. Scott likens the practice to 'planned obsolescence' and considers it doubly unethical and historically harmful. His campaign is now seeking legal support through a European Citizens' Initiative, lobbying for legislation that would force publishers to ensure games are left in a playable condition, even after online services are abandoned. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Perdagangkan CFD Emas dengan Broker Tepercaya IC Markets Mendaftar Undo They might just stop killing games.. Pirate Software Takes a Stand Not everyone is on board with Scott's radical tack. Thor from Pirate Software, famous for his no-bullshit attitude and indie developer roots, has been one of the most vocal critics of the SKG movement since it went public in August 2024. In his opinion, SKG's proposals go too wide and are unrealistic, possibly violating developers' self-determination and misinterpreting the realities of game development. In an official YouTube response video published June 23, 2025, Scott fired back at Pirate Software's criticism, calling Thor an agent of misinformation, especially on the point about SKG turning their online multiplayer games into offline single-player ports. Doubling Down, Drawing Lines In the face of this uproar, it appears Thor didn't retract his comments. On June 26th, 2025, Pirate Software released a sequel going further criticizing SKG's campaign and doubling down on this criticism, Ministry defending his position that SKG's campaign is misrepresentative and would likely produce negative impacts on smaller developers who don't have the resources to keep server infrastructure running forever. The conflict reveals a larger rift. Though SKG supports consumer rights and long-term game preservation, the tasks dump a lot of new responsibility on creators, a detail critics like Thor are quick to point out. This is mostly in an era now ruled by digital distribution and live-service models. Stop Killing Games What's at Stake At the center of this heated debate lies the delicate question: Should games be preserved like books and films, or are they intrinsically transient? Now that governments are considering imposing some legal duties on publishers, how this debate plays out could almost decide the future of ownership and preservation of games-the world increasingly turning digital. For now, Stop Killing Games and Pirate Software are the two drastically different ideals for the future of gaming, and all gamers around the world are observing! Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Time of India
15 hours ago
- 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
15 hours ago
- 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.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ubisoft says you "cannot complain" it shut down The Crew because you never actually owned it, and you weren't "deceived" by the lack of an offline version "to access a decade-old, discontinued video game"
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Ubisoft's lawyers have responded to a class action lawsuit over the shutdown of The Crew, arguing that it was always clear that you didn't own the game and calling for a dismissal of the case outright. The class action was filed in November 2024, and Ubisoft's response came in February 2025, though it's only come to the public's attention now courtesy of Polygon. The full response from Ubisoft attorney Steven A. Marenberg picks apart the claims of plaintiffs Matthew Cassell and Alan Liu piece by piece, but the most common refrain is that The Crew's box made clear both that the game required an internet connection and that Ubisoft retained the right to revoke access "to one or more specific online features" with a 30-day notice at its own discretion. "After making their purchases, Plaintiffs enjoyed access to The Crew for years before Ubisoft decided in late 2023 to retire shut down the servers of the ten-year-old video game," Marenberg argues. "Plaintiffs received the benefit of their bargain and cannot complain now that they were deceived simply because Ubisoft did not then create an offline version of the discontinued video game." Polygon's report notes that the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint on March 18, which argued that an activation code included with the retail version of the game that doesn't expire until 2099 implied that the whole package would remain playable until that date. It also argues that The Crew's currency could be considered a sale of a gift certificate, which are not allowed to expire under California law, where the suit was filed. Which side of the argument has merit here will ultimately be decided by a judge, and if Ubisoft has its way, it'll be dismissed before it can actually go to trial. Marenberg concludes that the "plaintiffs' dissatisfaction with being unable to access a decade old, discontinued video game is not sufficient basis upon which to file a putative class action complaint." It's worth explicitly noting that this case is unrelated to the ongoing Stop Killing Games campaign, a broader consumer rights effort inspired by The Crew's shutdown. That group is attempting to create laws that would force publishers to patch otherwise online-only games so that end users could continue playing them after they're no longer being supported, whether through offline modes or support for custom servers. The movement has inspired Ubisoft to add offline modes to The Crew 2 and The Crew Motorfest, but not the now-dead original that spawned all this kerfuffle in the first place. Publishers are absolutely terrified "preserved video games would be used for recreational purposes," so the US copyright office has struck down a major effort for game preservation.
