Why It’s Crucial to Safeguard Your Digital Purchases
Have you ever bought a video game, only to discover that after some time it became completely unplayable because the publisher ended its support? This problem, known as “killing games,” is increasingly prevalent in the world of digital distribution and represents a growing concern for gamers worldwide. The “Stop Killing Games” movement was founded precisely with the aim of challenging the legality of such practices and protecting consumer rights.
What is “Stop Killing Games” and Why Is It a Problem?
“Stop Killing Games” is a consumer movement launched to challenge the legality of video game publishers destroying games they have sold to customers. An increasing number of video games are effectively sold as goods – with no stated expiration date – but are designed to become completely unplayable as soon as support from the publisher ends (e.g., shutting down servers for online games).
This practice is a form of planned obsolescence and is not only detrimental to customers but also effectively makes game preservation impossible for future generations. Imagine buying a book or a movie, only for the publisher to tell you a few years later that you can no longer use them. In the digital world, this happens daily. The legality of this practice is largely untested in many countries, which creates an opportunity to fight for consumer rights.
Past Successes and Ongoing Initiatives
Over the past year, the “Stop Killing Games” movement has successfully escalated complaints about this issue to consumer agencies in France, Germany, and Australia. Petitions for new laws on this problem have also been launched in various countries. You can view a list of actions taken to date on the movement’s official website: stopkillinggames.com.
As of 2025, most consumer actions at the agency level have concluded, and decisions from several governments are pending. However, a few significant avenues remain where people can directly participate if they are eligible:
- European Citizens’ Initiative – OPEN! This is the most powerful option at the movement’s disposal, but it requires a massive number of signatures from citizens of European Union countries to pass. If the signature threshold is met, there’s a very strong chance that the European Commission will pass a new law that will both protect consumer rights to retain purchased video games and massively advance game preservation efforts. Currently, 1,270,364 signatures have been collected, with a goal of 1.4M!
- Petition to the UK Government UK citizens and residents can sign a petition which, if it reaches 100,000 signatures, could lead to a new law being considered for debate in Parliament. The goal is to prohibit publishers from destroying video games that customers have already paid for.
- Contacting UFC-Que Choisir with complaints about “The Crew” If you are a French citizen and owned a copy of the game “The Crew” (in any capacity), please consider following the instructions on the movement’s website for submitting information that may later be sent to UFC-Que Choisir (a French consumer organization).
Global Impact and How You Can Help
Unfortunately, these remaining options exclude citizens from other countries from direct participation. However, all other avenues found have either been exhausted or are already underway. It’s worth noting that if this issue achieves success in a major country, customers will likely benefit from the changes globally due to market forces.
While it can be frustrating not to be able to act directly in other countries, the most effective action you can take is to spread the word about these initiatives to those who are eligible to sign. If you wish to prevent video games from being destroyed so no one can ever play them again, please tell others about these initiatives! Your voice, even indirectly, can make a difference.
🎮 STOP KILLING GAMES: Do Publishers Have the Right to Permanently Take Away Your Purchased Games?
<div style=”display:none;”> This text explores the legal and ethical aspects of the practice where video game publishers permanently disable access to games that users have already purchased. The focus is on European initiatives, consumer protection, and the preservation of digital cultural heritage, with a special emphasis on the EU and UK. </div>
💣 You bought a game. It disappears. The End?
Imagine you paid full price for a game — digitally, with no physical disc. And then, after a few years, the servers shut down. The game becomes unplayable forever. No refund. No access. Just an icon on your screen that means nothing anymore.
It is precisely against this practice that the international movement called Stop Killing Games has been launched.
🛑 What’s the Problem?
A large number of today’s games are sold as if they are your permanent property – with no expiration date, no warning. However, they are designed in the background to become completely unusable as soon as the publisher decides to stop providing support.
This is not only unfair – but also a form of planned obsolescence. It’s also a huge obstacle to the preservation of digital culture and gaming history.
⚖️ Is This Legal?
The answer: it’s not fully known. In most countries, this practice has not been tested in courts, and digital rights laws are outdated. That’s why the Stop Killing Games movement advocates for new legislation at the EU and UK level that would:
- prohibit the destruction of purchased games
- ensure consumers’ right to permanent access
- protect archiving and emulation for preservation purposes
🇪🇺 EU Citizens’ Initiative – Get Involved While You Still Can!
The European Citizens’ Initiative is currently open, aiming to compel the European Commission to pass a law that would protect users’ digital property, including games.
📌 1 million signatures from EU citizens are needed — and over 1,270,000 signatures have already been collected!
You still have time to join if you are a citizen of an EU member state.
🇬🇧 Petition in the United Kingdom
UK citizens and residents can sign an official petition demanding a ban on publishers permanently revoking access to paid games. If the petition reaches 100,000 signatures, the topic will be debated in Parliament.
👉 Sign the UK petition here (Note: The correct petition ID needs to be entered when available. For now, this is just an example link.)
🇫🇷 France: If You Played “The Crew,” You Have Rights
If you are from France and owned the game The Crew (Ubisoft), there is an option to submit complaints to the UFC-Que Choisir organization. More information and a guide for submission can be found on the official campaign website.
👉 Guide for “The Crew” complaints (for French citizens)
❌ Citizens of Other Countries?
Unfortunately, there is currently no direct way for citizens from countries like the US, Canada, Australia (beyond the agency complaints mentioned), or other non-EU/UK nations to directly sign these specific initiatives. However, you can help by spreading the word and motivating friends and family in the EU and UK to get involved.
💾 Why Is This Important for All Gamers?
This fight isn’t just for those who want to “keep their games.” This is a battle for:
- digital consumer rights
- the future of retro gaming and emulation
- freedom of access to what you have legally purchased
If this practice is legalized or ignored, your favorite games could be next. Or even those you were just planning to buy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Here are answers to some of the most common questions related to the “Stop Killing Games” movement and the issue of game destruction:
Q: What exactly does “killing games” mean? A: “Killing games” refers to the practice of publishers permanently disabling the ability to play games they have sold, usually by shutting down servers necessary for the game’s function, even for single-player content. This means a game you purchased becomes unusable.
Q: Why do publishers shut down servers and destroy games? A: The main reasons are to reduce the costs of maintaining servers for older games that no longer generate significant profit, to reallocate resources to new projects, or sometimes due to legal issues with licenses for music or other game elements.
Q: Does this only apply to online games? A: No. While most common with online games, many single-player games today require a constant internet connection or verification via the publisher’s servers, so they too can become unplayable when support ends.
Q: Is this problem only for old games? A: No. The problem applies to all games that rely on publisher servers. Even relatively new games can be “killed” if the publisher decides to end support. The example of “The Crew” shows this happening with modern titles.
Q: How can I check if my favorite game will be “killed”? A: There is no official database, but you can follow news about the games you own. Some websites and communities track server status for games. However, publishers are not obligated to announce server shutdowns in advance.
Q: Is this legal in the US, Canada, or other countries? A: The legality of this practice is largely untested in courts in many countries. Consumer protection and digital rights laws are often outdated and do not fully cover such scenarios. This is precisely why the “Stop Killing Games” movement is important, as it aims to establish clear legal frameworks globally.
Q: What can I do if I am not an EU or UK citizen? A: While you cannot directly sign the petitions, the most important thing is to spread awareness about the issue. Share information with friends and family in the EU/UK and encourage them to sign. Every signature matters!
🔚 Conclusion: Don’t Let Your Games Disappear
This topic is neither a “niche” nor “gamer philosophy” – it’s a matter of rights and practice. If we don’t stand up for our rights now, the future of digital property (not just games!) could become bleak.
📣 If you have relatives, friends, or acquaintances in the EU or UK – send them the link. Explain to them why it’s important. One signature now could save thousands of games in the future.
👉 More information and links to sign the petition can be found on the website: StopKillingGames.com