As a lifelong gamer from Europe, I’ve seen far too many cherished titles disappear into the digital abyss once their service ends, leaving us players high and dry. The “Stop Killing Games” initiative is like a breath of fresh air, a beacon of hope for those of us who refuse to let our favorite games fade into obscurity.
How did the European gaming community launch a campaign to stop game publishers from ending support for games prematurely, rendering them unplayable? The movement, titled “Stop Killing Games,” is gaining traction on social platforms, with an increasing number of participants hailing from various parts of Europe. But what led to its inception, and are there any potential drawbacks?
We have the answers.
The “Stop Killing Games” Initiative
The entire project originated following the closure of Ubisoft’s cherished game, “The Crew,” which had been operational for a decade.
“We understand this may be disappointing for players still enjoying the game, but it has become a necessity due to upcoming server infrastructure and licensing constraints. Decommissioning a game, and especially our first one, is not something we take lightly. Our goal remains to provide the best action driving gameplay experience for players and to deliver on it, we are continuing to provide new content and support for The Crew 2 and the recently launched The Crew Motorfest.” ~ Ubisoft
As a passionate gamer, I strongly feel that Ubisoft’s decision to shut down “The Crew” is an attack on our rights as consumers and the preservation of digital media. Consequently, I am considering taking legal action against them for this move. Simultaneously, I have taken it upon myself to initiate a European Citizen Initiative titled “Stop Killing Games”. This initiative aims to halt publishers from discontinuing their games in the future. Currently, it is open for signatures. The ultimate objective of this campaign is to discover a solution that ensures games remain playable in a reasonably functional state even after their services have ended.
As a passionate gamer, I’ve joined the initiative that aims to gather one million signatures across various EU countries by July 31, 2025. However, not everyone is on board, as some question its feasibility. They wonder if game publishers could possibly maintain their games in a playable state after discontinuing service or transferring them to privately-hosted servers.
It’s worth mentioning that not every game can stay profitable over an extended period, and some may never reach profitability at all. Finding a balance between delivering value to customers while ensuring publishers aren’t overburdened with costs that could limit their creative freedom and production of new games is quite challenging.
Possible Solutions
In spite of the obstacles, the “Stop Killing Games” campaign has ignited significant discussions regarding video game conservation and consumer entitlements.
Some proposed solutions include laws requiring game publishers to provide tools or software for community hosting of older games. This would let fans maintain access while reducing the burden on publishers.
In addition, we reached out to the representatives from the Initiative for their perspective on their objectives and findings. This article will be revised as soon as we get their response.
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2024-08-06 17:39