‘Stop Killing Games’ Petition Surges Again, Reaches Major Milestone

 

‘Stop Killing Games’ Petition Sees Major Comeback, Nears 1 Million Signatures

The Stop Killing Games movement—a major consumer push to stop the delisting and shutdown of multiplayer video games—has gained renewed momentum, recently surpassing 820,000 signatures and edging closer to its 1 million goal.

Launched in 2023 by YouTuber Ross Scott, the campaign was sparked by Ubisoft’s removal of The Crew and aims to introduce legislation that would prevent game publishers from rendering purchased multiplayer games unplayable. Scott argues that current industry practices effectively allow companies to "destroy" games after sale by taking them offline, without accountability.

Over the last few years, the gaming industry has seen a growing trend of publishers shutting down online titles once they no longer generate sufficient revenue or engagement. These shutdowns often leave players with no means of accessing the game they paid for. A notable example is the original Call of Duty: Warzone, which became completely unplayable after its servers were taken offline—prompting widespread frustration and raising alarm about digital ownership and game preservation.

Scott’s petition, hosted on the Stop Killing Games website, states the campaign’s core mission: to challenge the legality of publishers discontinuing access to games sold to consumers. The petition calls this behavior a “form of planned obsolescence,” claiming it unfairly strips players of access to purchased content once server support ends.

So far, the movement has filed formal complaints in France, Germany, and Australia, urging consumer protection agencies to investigate whether these shutdowns violate consumer rights. As of 2025, most of these complaints have been submitted, and the movement is now awaiting government responses.

With only 40,000 signatures to go before reaching the 1 million mark—a key threshold for getting the European Commission to consider legislative action—the campaign is gaining rapid support. If successful, it could pave the way for new regulations that ensure long-term access to online games and protect players from sudden digital losses.

As digital gaming continues to evolve, Stop Killing Games highlights a growing call for accountability in an industry where once-purchased experiences can vanish overnight.