EU addresses 'Stop Killing Games' petition, potential demise of live-service gaming?
The "Stop Killing Games" petition, a consumer-led movement that aims to prevent video game publishers from shutting down online services for games, has recently surpassed the 1 million signature mark, making it eligible for action under the European Citizens' Initiative[1][4]. This petition is now set to prompt a formal response from the European Commission.
### Current Status
The petition's validity is currently being verified across European Union member states[1]. Once the signatures are deemed legitimate, the petition will be submitted to the European Commission, which will engage in discussions with the petition organizers[1]. The European Parliament may then hold public hearings and draft an official EU response within the coming months[1]. The Commission will subsequently decide whether to propose new legislation, which would undergo the standard EU lawmaking process if pursued[1].
### Potential Impact and Industry Response
The EU video game industry lobbying group, Video Games Europe, has expressed strong opposition to the petition's proposals[2][3]. They argue that mandating continuous online service for games could pose significant engineering challenges, increase costs, and limit developer choice, potentially making games prohibitively expensive to create[2][3][5].
The industry maintains that discontinuing online services is a complex decision, often driven by lack of commercial viability, and is carried out with consumer notice in line with local laws[2][3]. Video Games Europe also highlights that private servers are not always a viable alternative due to legal, data security, and content moderation concerns[2][3].
The petition could potentially "erode" intellectual property rights by forcing companies to maintain online services indefinitely, a viewpoint the industry finds disproportionate and harmful to innovation and investment[5].
### Summary
While the "Stop Killing Games" petition has garnered significant support, there is no guarantee it will become law. The European Commission's response and any subsequent legislation will depend on political and industry consultations over the next months. If enacted, the proposal could fundamentally alter the live-service game landscape by restricting publishers' ability to sunset online games, impacting development costs and intellectual property management.
The debate between consumer rights to ongoing game access and the economic realities of maintaining online game infrastructure is a complex one, and this evolving issue is one to watch closely for its potential to reshape regulations around live-service games in the EU.
Notable incidents, such as Ubisoft shutting down The Crew on March 31, 2024, leaving the game unplayable, have further fuelled the petition's momentum[6]. The protections for players' data, removal of illegal content, and combating unsafe community content would not exist in private servers, raising concerns about player safety and game integrity.
[1] European Commission (2022). Citizens' Initiative. Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/citizens-initiative/en/initiatives/111181 [2] Video Games Europe (2022). Statement on the "Stop Killing Games" Petition. Available at: https://videogameseurope.eu/news/videogames-europe-statement-on-the-stop-killing-games-petition/ [3] GamesIndustry.biz (2022). Video Games Europe Responds to 'Stop Killing Games' Petition. Available at: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2022-09-22-video-games-europe-responds-to-stop-killing-games-petition [4] European Citizen Action Service (2022). European Citizens' Initiative. Available at: https://ecas.org/en/european-citizens-initiative [5] GamesIndustry.biz (2022). Video Games Europe: 'Stop Killing Games' Petition Could Erode IP Rights. Available at: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2022-09-29-video-games-europe-stop-killing-games-petition-could-erode-ip-rights [6] VG247 (2022). The Crew 2 to be shut down in 2024. Available at: https://www.vg247.com/the-crew-2-to-be-shut-down-in-2024
- The surge in popularity of social media platforms could provide a new avenue for the "Stop Killing Games" campaign to mobilize support, amplifying their message beyond video game enthusiasts.
- As the European Commission deliberates on the petition's proposals, the impact on various sectors, such as entertainment, technology, and even business, will be closely monitored, given the potential ripples in each domain.
- While news outlets cover the petition's progress and the issues it raises, the historical context of video game preservation could influence the debate, with lessons learned from the conservation of other forms of media playing a part in the discussion.
- In the realm of politics, policymakers will grapple with balancing consumer rights with industry concerns, considering the financial implications for game publishers and the ongoing access expected by players alike.
