"Stop Killing Games" Initiative Reaches Milestone, EU to Rule on Digital Ownership Battle in July
The "Stop Killing Games" initiative has recently sparked discussion in the European Parliament, with the core dispute being whether players who purchase digital games should still be able to play after servers are shut down. According to cnBeta, European Parliament member Markéta Gregorová said in related discussions: "If buying a game does not mean owning it, then piracy is not theft." Since the European Parliament official page does not provide a verbatim transcript, this statement is cited from the original report.
The controversy has escalated into an EU consumer rights issue. The European Citizens' Initiative "Stop Destroying Videogames" was submitted to the European Commission for review on January 26, 2026, with 1,294,188 verified signatures and reaching the threshold in 24 member states. The European Commission must formally respond by July 27, 2026, deciding whether to take further legislative or policy action.
What Players Buy May Only Be a License – The Term "Purchase" Is Misleading
The core issue of "Stop Killing Games" is that game companies sell digital games under the label "purchase," but players actually only obtain a revocable usage license. Games require connection to official servers to function. Once the publisher stops operations or shuts down verification services, even if players have paid, they may no longer be able to launch or play the work.
According to reports, Markéta Gregorová criticized game companies for being able to "flick a switch" to make paid products disappear, yet still using the term "purchase" on store pages. Her remarks reflect that the focus of this controversy is not to require companies to run servers forever, but to demand that the industry clearly distinguish between "buying a product" and "renting access to a service."
EU Initiative Demands Maintain Playability – Not Permanent Server Operation
The "Stop Destroying Videogames" initiative requires that games remain basically playable after shutdown, not that publishers run official servers permanently.
The initiative proposes that if a game is sold or licensed in the EU market, the publisher should provide an offline mode, private server support, or other solutions to allow players to continue using it when support ends. This requirement targets game designs that become completely non-functional when remotely shut down.
For single-player games, the problem is usually minor; but for games that require persistent online verification, cloud saves, or official matchmaking servers, shutting down may render the entire game useless. The initiative hopes the EU will intervene from a consumer protection perspective to prevent paid content from permanently disappearing due to business decisions.
"The Crew" Shutdown Becomes Representative Case – Ubisoft Sued by French Consumer Organization
Ubisoft's online racing game "The Crew" is the most frequently cited case in this controversy. The game launched in 2014, was delisted in December 2023, and permanently shut down servers on March 31, 2024. Since "The Crew" requires an online connection to function, players who purchased it could no longer play after the shutdown. French consumer organization UFC-Que Choisir announced on March 31, 2026, that it had filed a lawsuit against Ubisoft, accusing its practices of potentially misleading consumers and involving unfair terms. This case concretizes the issue of "digital ownership": if players purchase a game at a buyout price, but the game company can unilaterally render the product useless in the future, is this a service termination or a recall of purchased goods?
- European MP: If buying doesn't mean owning, then piracy is not theft
- 14th valid initiative 'Stop Destroying Videogames' submitted to the Commission for examination
- Stop Destroying Videogames
- French consumer group sues Ubisoft over shutdown of online game 'The Crew'
(This article is republished from Unwire HK; cover image source: Shutterstock)
