Stop Killing Games: European agenda for protecting video games

The 'Stop Killing Games' initiative was created to push back against the shutdown of video games and the resulting loss of access. Recently, the movement has gained attention in the European Parliament, and its message appears to have been heard, which could lead to new rules to strengthen consumer protection in the digital space.

Goal of the initiative

Stop Killing Games’ main objective is to prevent players from losing access to games they have purchased because of discontinued services or unnecessary access restrictions. During a recent hearing, led by Vice President Nils Ušakovs, the core of these concerns was laid out by several experts and stakeholders.

Nils Ušakovs summed up the 45-minute hearing with the words: "Today we had the chance to hear directly from the organizers, experts and stakeholders about the challenges that arise when video games become unplayable after sale." Ušakovs’ remarks underline that the issues raised by this initiative are a real concern for millions of European citizens, possibly even hundreds of millions.

Timeline

2026-04-17: Stop Killing Games presented its message in the European Parliament, where it received a positive response and commitments from policymakers.
July 2026: Giuseppe Abbamonte, a director at the European Commission, promises to report in July on the investigation into copyright rules related to video game playability.
2023: The Stop Killing Games initiative gathered more than 1 million signatures from European citizens in support of its call to end destructive practices in the industry.

Impact of the initiative

Stop Killing Games founder Ross Scott explains: "When we say a game has been destroyed, we mean that a publisher has permanently deactivated all copies, so nobody can ever play them again." This issue is relevant for games that depend on online services and cannot survive once publishers end support.

Scott stresses that customers have very little protection when buying these games. They are often not told when access will end, leaving them with essentially no control over their purchases. He compares the situation to buying a book in a store; a publisher cannot come back and take those copies away.

Future of regulation

Ušakovs and other European Parliament representatives have promised to keep investigating these issues. That raises hope that changes and improvements may be coming to rules around copyright and consumer protection.

The debate around Stop Killing Games is about more than a single case; it reflects a broader problem in the digital world. The initiative is calling on the industry to handle the way it offers video games more responsibly, so consumer rights remain protected even after purchase.

In an era where digital products are becoming increasingly common, initiatives like Stop Killing Games are crucial for preserving consumer protection and the long-term sustainability of video games as a medium.