The growing outcry over game preservation just reached a milestone. The Stop Killing Games petition, aimed at preventing publishers from remotely disabling video games after servers shut down, has officially surpassed 1.4 million signatures a full ten days ahead of its deadline.
This landmark achievement pushes the initiative into official territory under the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) framework, meaning it must now be formally considered by the European Parliament. Even if some signatures are deemed invalid, the movement has enough traction to move forward.
At its core, the Stop Killing Games initiative doesn’t demand that publishers keep supporting old titles forever. Instead, it asks for a legal requirement that video games remain playable even after official support ends.
"This initiative seeks to prevent the remote disabling of video games by publishers before providing reasonable means for them to continue functioning without involvement from the publisher," reads the petition.
The petition clarifies that it does not seek control over game ownership, IP rights, or monetization. Rather, it proposes a preservation-first model—similar to how films and books are archived—ensuring players can still access and enjoy games even after server shutdowns.
Fueling the Movement: Controversy & Industry Response
Momentum behind the petition has only intensified in recent weeks, thanks in part to controversial industry pushback.
Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot recently made headlines by arguing that games naturally reach an “end of life” and that it’s unrealistic to expect indefinite online availability. Ubisoft’s role in sunsetting titles like The Crew has already drawn ire from the community, and Guillemot’s remarks only added fuel to the fire.
Further controversy came from PirateSoftware, whose inflammatory comments criticizing the initiative and its supporters which caused significant online outrage and professional fallout.
Despite the criticism, public support for Stop Killing Games has grown exponentially, with supporters arguing that modern digital ownership leaves consumers vulnerable when games are delisted or shut down entirely.
Now that the initiative has crossed the 1 million signature threshold required by the ECI, the petition enters its consideration phase. European Parliament members will now formally review the initiative and determine whether to introduce legislation that could protect digital game preservation across the EU.
While the road ahead could take months, this milestone ensures that Stop Killing Games will no longer be ignored. The fight for game preservation just got a major boost and publishers may soon have to answer for how they handle legacy content.
What are your thoughts on the milestone? Do you think it will be enough for European Parliament to take a serious look at it? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
As always, stay tuned to Gamefragger.com for more updates as they come.