Stop Killing Games Fails EU Law Despite 1.3 Million Signatures
The European Commission has declined to propose legislation requiring publishers to keep discontinued video games playable, delivering a significant setback to the “Stop Killing Games” campaign. Despite the initiative garnering over a million verified signatures, the Commission cited concerns regarding intellectual property rights, business costs, and potential security risks as reasons for not imposing a legal obligation. Instead, discussions will commence by the end of 2026 with the industry and consumer representatives to draft an industry code of conduct. While this decision means publishers are not facing an immediate EU-wide legal requirement, the campaign remains determined to push for legislative change, now focusing on amending existing EU digital consumer legislation.
John Q. Hosedrinker