MMO Game Preservation Efforts Require One Million Signatures to Propose EU Law

European Gamers Launch Petition to Save Online Games from Server Shutdowns

A European citizen's initiative, "Stop Killing Games," is underway, aiming to protect players' digital investments in online games. Triggered by Ubisoft's shutdown of The Crew, the petition seeks EU legislation preventing publishers from rendering games unplayable after ending support.

The petition, spearheaded by Ross Scott, aims to collect one million signatures within a year to formally propose the legislation to the EU. This ambitious goal requires signatures from across various European nations, with eligibility limited to EU citizens of voting age. As of August, the petition has already garnered over 183,000 signatures.

The initiative directly addresses the issue of server shutdowns, which effectively erase players' significant time and monetary investments in online-only titles. Scott draws parallels to the lost films of the silent era, highlighting the irretrievable loss of digital purchases when servers are deactivated. He argues that this constitutes a form of planned obsolescence, where publishers retain profits while destroying the games they sold.

The proposed law wouldn't demand publishers relinquish intellectual property, source code, or provide perpetual support. Instead, it mandates that games remain functional (playable) at the time of shutdown, leaving the implementation method to the publishers' discretion. This accountability extends to free-to-play games with microtransactions, ensuring players aren't left empty-handed after purchasing in-game items.

The petition acknowledges successful precedents, such as Knockout City's transition to a free-to-play model with private server support after its shutdown. However, the initiative explicitly states it won't require:

• Relinquishing intellectual property rights
• Providing source code
• Offering endless support
• Hosting servers indefinitely
• Assuming liability for player actions

To participate, visit the "Stop Killing Games" website and sign the petition (one signature per person). Even non-Europeans can contribute by spreading awareness of the initiative, aiming to create a global impact on the video game industry and prevent future game closures.