Is The Industry Trying To Sabotage “Stop Killing Games”?

by

The Stop Killing Games (SKG) movement, initiated by Scott Ross in 2024, showed signs of slowing down but was revitalized by an EU petition titled “Stop Destroying Videogames.” However, despite its success – surpassing the 1.4 million signature mark – the campaign now appears to be facing adversity. Ross has expressed concerns that the industry might be behind these attacks on the movement.

False Claims About The Initiative

Lately, Ross posted a video stating that the project has faced severe allegations from an anonymous source. These allegations suggest that Ross’s involvement could be valued between €63,000 and €147,000, and failing to disclose this could breach rules. However, Ross clarified that he is not a financial supporter or professional associated with the project; he is merely a volunteer.

Given the strong possibility that these accusations aren’t just from a concerned citizen acting alone, Ross believes it might be an attempt by the gaming industry to remove the petition. This aligns with the growing perception that influential figures within the industry are intentionally distorting the initiative’s aims for their benefit.

The Lies Of The Industry

On July 7th, Video Games Europe released a statement that appears to distort the purpose of the initiative, potentially in an attempt to shield questionable practices by publishers. They argue that the initiative’s goals are vague and its methods unclear. Moreover, they suggest that the initiative might compel publishers to maintain online servers indefinitely for players, regardless of cost. However, this assertion is incorrect.

Pondering over this subject leads one to wonder: “What does Video Games Europe represent?” It’s a powerful advocacy group that voices the concerns of numerous heavyweights within the gaming sector. Given this context, it’s not unreasonable to assume they are keen on maintaining the current situation, particularly when observing that other major players in the industry share similar viewpoints on the topic.

Ubisoft About SKG

At a shareholder meeting, Yves Guillemot, CEO of Ubisoft, was questioned about his views on the Stop Killing Games movement and game preservation in general. However, it appears that Mr. Guillemot misunderstood the intent behind SKG and the broader initiative. He asserted that “nothing lasts forever” and emphasized that Ubisoft alerts players in advance regarding how long they can continue playing their games.

However, the initiative challenges the validity of setting an expiration date on a game that a consumer has bought. Guillemont reiterates his point that publishers may not be able to offer servers and online services indefinitely. Yet, it’s crucial to clarify that this is not the focus of the initiative at hand.

It’s striking to see the CEO of Ubisoft address SKG. To me, it seems he may be feigning ignorance regarding continuous support. It’s often more convenient for the industry to pretend they don’t grasp the demand rather than admit to the issue and propose a resolution.

— Accursed Farms (@accursedfarms) July 18, 2025

Is SKG Unclear?

Reading the assertions from prominent industry figures left me wondering if perhaps the Stop Kicking Games or Stop Ruining Games movement might be too vague or confusing in its objectives. However, I discovered that this is not the case at all. In fact, what they’re advocating for is quite straightforward: they simply want games to remain playable even after a publisher ceases support. This goal is clearly stated on the Stop Kicking Games website.

It would be beneficial if publishers could establish a retirement plan for games, enabling players to take ownership and management without continued support or services from the publisher. An illustration might be providing users with the ability to self-host their own online servers instead of solely depending on the publisher’s servers. Essentially, this means that when you purchase a game, you should have the right to keep it.

Ignorant Or Malicious?

It appears as though the criticism and allegations directed at SKG by the gaming industry could be an effort to change the subject and divert attention from the genuine issue that SKG is striving to address. This is particularly noticeable because they all seem to be misconstruing it in the same manner. The playerbase, on the other hand, is largely supporting Ross and his initiative, with many expressing that the alterations they request are “past due”.

The initiative remains open until July 31st, and while we’ve already gathered 1.4 million signatures, it’s always wise to gather more to ensure success. It’s uncertain if any more misleading statements will surface about SKG before the month ends, but what SKG truly desires is that buying equals ownership, a belief I wholeheartedly endorse.

Read More

2025-07-24 19:10