After nearly two years of organizing, petitions, and public frustration over disappearing libraries, the Stop Killing Games movement finally has a firm timeline for its biggest test. The European Commission has confirmed that it will deliver its official response to the EU-focused branch of the campaign, Stop Destroying Videogames, by July 27, 2026.
Stop Killing Games, originally launched by YouTuber Ross Scott after Ubisoft shut down always-online racer The Crew, has been pushing for regulations that stop publishers from revoking access to titles people have already bought. The European Citizens’ Initiative component, operating under the Stop Destroying Videogames name, cleared the 1 million verified signatures needed to force the issue onto the Commission’s agenda, ultimately reaching around 1.3 million. That makes it one of a small handful of ECIs to reach this stage, just the 14th valid initiative since the system began in 2012.
The process from here is clearly laid out. In the coming weeks, the Commission will meet with the organizers to discuss the initiative in detail, followed by a public hearing in the European Parliament. By late July, the Commission must publish an official reply explaining what actions it intends to take, “if any.” At that point, the Commission could propose legislation, pursue alternative measures, or ultimately decide not to act.
For players who watched games like The Crew vanish when servers went dark, that uncertainty cuts close to the core of the campaign. Stop Killing Games has consistently argued that customers, not publishers, should decide when they’re done with a game, whether through local server options, preservation-friendly shutdown plans, or other safeguards. Whatever the outcome, this is the moment when that argument is formally tested at the EU’s highest level, with implications that could reach far beyond one racing game or one platform.
Source: Games Radar
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