Stop Killing Games Rejected: Europe Will Not Save Video Games Destined to Disappear

The European Commission has decided not to proceed with the introduction of regulations that would require developers and publishers to keep online video games accessible once their commercial life cycle has ended. This decision comes after months of discussions focused on the preservation of video game works and consumer rights in the digital age.

The issue was brought to the attention of European institutions thanks to the grassroots initiative "Stop Killing Games", a movement that had collected a sufficient number of signatures to receive an official evaluation from the Commission. The campaign aimed to ensure that players continue to access the titles they purchased even after support from the producers ceases.

Despite the interest shown in the topic, Brussels concluded that specific legislation would be difficult to apply within the current regulatory framework. According to the Commission, existing rules concerning intellectual property and copyright represent a significant barrier to introducing generalized obligations for the industry.

However, this issue will not be sidelined by the EU. What will be the future of video games?

The absence of new legislation does not mean that the topic will be abandoned. In fact, the European institution has announced its intention to collaborate with companies and operators in the sector to define a voluntary code of conduct. This set of guidelines should establish good practices regarding the management of video games when they are withdrawn from the market or when online services cease to be available.

At the same time, the Commission will work with consumer associations and competent authorities to enhance the understanding of rights already recognized for users. A report on the progress of these initiatives is expected by the end of 2026. The Stop Killing Games campaign emerged in 2024 following Ubisoft's shutdown of The Crew servers, a decision that sparked strong controversy, especially since the game was also removed from the digital libraries of users who had previously obtained it.

This does not mean that a specific regulation is completely stalled. The Commission has simply provided an assessment and stated that the movement's proposal is essentially incompatible with current copyright legislation. Without the Commission's approval, it is not possible to submit new legislative proposals to Parliament.

Scott Ross has also recounted how discussions with the Commission have turned out to be rather pretextual and the concept of "indefinite support" was reiterated, a request that the movement has never put forward in its communications or official documents. Instead, it has always maintained that it would be unthinkable for a publisher to support a title "forever".

However, the European Parliament seems supportive of a change in direction. Scott Ross has made it clear that he is working on the so-called "Fairness Digital Act," a regulation that already exists and was proposed by the Commission itself. The law would meet all the demands put forth by the movement, so only its final approval by Parliament would be necessary. Consequently, the step through the Commission is now unnecessary since the legislative proposal already exists and a second opinion from the Commission is not anticipated, only agreement between the Council and the European Parliament.

In summary, Ross stressed that he does not interpret the Commission's decision as a defeat, but simply as a formality in the bureaucratic process. He admitted just days before the announcement that he did not expect a different outcome.

At the same time, he clarified that the parliamentary majority would favor the introduction of the Digital Fairness Act, which means that if it is also approved by the Council, the industry would have to comply with the rules set forth in the law.

The incident reignited the debate about the meaning of ownership in the realm of digital content and the necessity to preserve video games that risk disappearing once official support ends. Meanwhile, some entities in the sector are already taking measures to make purchase conditions more transparent. Several digital platforms, including Steam, have started to clarify that the user obtains a license for the product rather than permanent ownership.