A European Union petition demanding publishers maintain playable online games after server shutdowns is gaining traction. The initiative, "Stop Destroying Video Games," has already surpassed its signature threshold in seven EU nations, bringing it closer to its one million signature goal.

Strong EU Gamer Support

39% of the Way to 1 Million Signatures

The petition has secured the necessary signatures in Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, and Sweden, exceeding targets in some cases. This impressive showing represents 397,943 signatures – a significant 39% of the one million needed to trigger official EU action.

This petition, launched in June 2024, directly addresses the growing concern of unplayable games following publisher support termination. It advocates for legislation compelling publishers to ensure continued game functionality even after official server closures.

The petition explicitly states its aim: "This initiative demands that publishers selling or licensing video games (or related assets) in the EU maintain these games in a playable state. Specifically, it seeks to prevent publishers from remotely disabling games without providing reasonable alternatives for continued gameplay independent of publisher involvement."

A prime example cited is Ubisoft's The Crew, a 2014 racing game with a reported 12 million players. Ubisoft's March 2024 server shutdown, attributed to infrastructure and licensing issues, rendered the game unplayable, sparking player outrage and even lawsuits in California alleging consumer protection violations.

While significant progress has been made, the petition still requires substantial additional signatures to reach its goal. EU citizens of voting age have until July 31st, 2025, to sign the petition online. Those outside the EU are encouraged to spread awareness of the campaign.