The consumer initiative Stop Killing Games has recently gathered over 1 million signatures in its campaign for video game preservation, calling for publishers to keep their titles playable after official support ends. However, Video Games Europe, representing major publishers like Ubisoft, Microsoft, and Nintendo, argues that adhering to these proposals would lead to prohibitively expensive game development. The movement gained momentum after Ubisoft discontinued server support for its title, The Crew, which rendered it unplayable. Despite the petition’s milestone, doubts remain about the validity of signatures, with estimates suggesting only 600,000 to 700,000 may be authentic. The effort continues to gain attention and could impact the future landscape of video game preservation.

What is the Stop Killing Games initiative and why does it matter?

Stop Killing Games is an initiative that aims for game publishers to maintain playable access to titles after support ends, addressing concerns over digital ownership and preservation following the increasing frequency of purchased games becoming unplayable.

The Crew was a multiplayer open-world racer released by Ubisoft that requires server support to operate. Its shutdown in March 2025 not only disabled multiplayer access but also blocked single-player content, highlighting the risks gamers face with titles that rely on always-online systems. The stop Killing Games movement arose from frustrations such as these, reflecting broader concerns across the gaming community regarding digital rights and preservation. The outcome of this campaign may shape future policies concerning digital game ownership and publisher responsibilities.