Image: Ubisoft
The Stop Killing Games campaign has crossed a major milestone, surpassing one million signatures on its official European Union petition. Spearheaded by YouTuber Ross Scott (of Accursed Farms), the campaign aims to protect digital game preservation by pushing for legislation that would prevent companies from rendering games unplayable after server shutdowns or DRM deactivation. For fans of game history and digital ownership, it’s a victory—but one that’s far from the end.
The campaign’s core message is clear: if you buy a game, you should be able to play it forever, even if the original publisher moves on. This issue has only grown more urgent in recent years, as major studios increasingly shift to digital-only models and live service games. When a company pulls the plug on servers, many games—especially multiplayer titles or those dependent on online check-ins—become useless, regardless of how much money players spent.
The petition needs 1 million validated signatures by July 31, 2025, and while the raw number has been surpassed, campaign organizers are pushing for more to account for potentially invalid entries. Influencers like MoistCr1TiKaL, Asmongold, and others have thrown their support behind the cause, helping to bring the issue into the spotlight. In response, the movement has caught traction across social media platforms, Reddit threads, and gaming forums where players are sharing stories of games they lost access to forever.
However, not everyone is on board. Some industry voices have raised concerns about unintended consequences. Video Games Europe, a group representing European game publishers, warned that the proposals could “curtail developer choice” and “impact innovation,” especially for smaller studios. Others argue that keeping every game playable indefinitely may not be practical from a cost or technical perspective.
The gaming community itself is divided. Many gamers applaud the campaign for standing up to corporate decisions that feel increasingly anti-consumer. Others worry that heavy regulation could lead to more expensive development, especially for indie creators already working with limited resources.
Across the internet, the Stop Killing Games campaign is striking a chord with players worldwide. On Reddit, threads in r/Games and r/pcgaming are filled with thousands of upvotes and personal stories from users who’ve lost access to digital titles they once purchased. Many point to games like The Crew, Darkspore, or Battleborn—titles that were abruptly delisted or shut down—as proof that the current system is broken. On Twitter/X, the hashtag #StopKillingGames has been trending in several regions, with users praising the campaign for challenging what they see as a greedy and shortsighted industry practice. Some content creators have even called for boycotts of publishers with a history of aggressive deplatforming, while others are urging Valve and console makers to take a stronger stance on digital preservation. Although there are detractors questioning how feasible full game preservation really is, the overall online sentiment has been overwhelmingly supportive—proof that this isn’t just a niche concern, but a growing movement across the gaming world.
Still, the sheer support for Stop Killing Games shows a clear demand for change. It’s no longer just about nostalgia—this is about consumer rights in the digital age. And with the petition nearing its final phase, all eyes are on EU lawmakers to see whether this momentum will lead to real policy.
Whether you’re passionate about preserving game history or just don’t want to lose access to the titles you paid for, the message is the same: the battle to save our games is only just beginning.
