Stop Destroying Video Games Petition Gains Wide Support in 7 EU Countries

A European Union petition demanding publishers maintain the playability of online games after server shutdowns is gaining momentum. The "Stop Destroying Video Games" initiative has already surpassed its signature threshold in seven EU nations.

Significant Progress Towards 1 Million Signatures

The petition has secured 397,943 signatures – 39% of its 1 million target – across Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, and Sweden. Several countries have even exceeded their individual signature goals.

This initiative directly addresses the growing concern of games becoming unplayable after publisher support ends. The petition advocates for legislation requiring publishers to ensure continued functionality of their games, even after official server closures.

As the petition states, publishers selling or licensing games within the EU should be obligated to maintain the games' playable state. This aims to prevent publishers from remotely disabling games without providing reasonable alternatives for continued gameplay.

The petition highlights the controversial shutdown of Ubisoft's The Crew in March 2024 as a prime example. Despite a substantial player base (over 12 million worldwide), server closures rendered the game unplayable, sparking outrage and even legal action in California.

While the petition still needs significant support to reach its goal, EU citizens have until July 31st, 2025, to sign. Non-EU citizens can still contribute by promoting the petition within their networks.