The Stop Killing Games petition has reached a huge milestone, with 1.4 million signatures, bringing it closer to a formal review by the European Commission. This campaign fights against game publishers shutting down servers and cutting off access to games that players have already purchased, often claiming that the company owns the game, even if the consumers have paid for it.
Hitting the 1 million signature mark is a key threshold for the EU Citizens’ Initiative, so surpassing it by such a margin offers some breathing room in case any signatures get disqualified during verification.
Ross Scott: Campaign Almost Guaranteed to Advance
Ross Scott, the campaign’s creator, shared on X that the initiative is “all but certain” to move forward to the EU Commission. He added that while botnet spoofing could be a potential threat, more signatures still help solidify the campaign’s legitimacy.
We have cleared 1.4 million signatures! I think this means the initiative is all but certain to proceed to the EU Commission. I think the only scenario it won't will be if we had botnet spoofing on a large scale earlier, so more people signing still helps.https://t.co/EpnNTDQAgm
— Accursed Farms (@accursedfarms) July 20, 2025
European Parliament vice president Nicolae Ștefănuță has publicly supported the petition, stating, “A game, once sold, belongs to the customer, not the company.” That clear stance is a big win for those backing the campaign.
Not everyone is on board, though. The publisher trade group Video Games Europe pushed back, arguing that the petition could limit developers’ freedom to make decisions. Twitch streamer Pirate Software also raised concerns, claiming the campaign’s goals have been misrepresented.
Currently, the petition is undergoing verification across EU member states. If everything checks out, it will be presented to the European Commission later this year for further consideration.
It’s a topic that hits close to home for many gamers who have lost access to their favorite titles due to server shutdowns. I’m genuinely surprised by the number of people who have rallied behind this cause.
What do you think? Should games remain playable indefinitely after purchase, or should companies have the option to close servers?
