Petition titled "Stop Killing Games" surpasses 1 million signatures, largely due to an attempt by a game developer to suppress it
The **Stop Killing Games (SKG) movement** is a consumer-led initiative that aims to ensure the long-term playability of video games, particularly those taken offline by publishers. The objective is to prevent the remote disabling of games, require games to remain playable post-support, and combat misleading purchase practices [1][5].
The movement was catalysed by Ubisoft's shutdown of *The Crew* in 2024, a game that required a constant online connection even for single-player mode. After server closure, the game became completely unplayable, highlighting the vulnerability of online-dependent games [1][5].
The SKG movement proposes several solutions to address this issue. One solution is legislative action, as the movement successfully gathered over 1 million signatures for a European Citizens' Initiative petition. This petition will be presented to the European Commission, aiming to push for new laws requiring publishers to provide ways to continue playing games after server shutdowns or end of service [1][3].
Another solution is encouraging game design changes, such as developing games with offline functionalities or the ability for players to operate private servers after official support ends [1]. The movement also advocates for clearer consumer rights, challenging current licensing models where digital goods like video games can disappear after purchase [1][5].
However, not all have supported the movement. Jason Hall, known online as PirateSoftware, a former Blizzard employee turned Twitch streamer, criticised the SKG movement in December 2024. Hall argued that the movement places an unfair burden on indie studios and suggested that government involvement would create more problems than it solves [6].
This criticism sparked immediate backlash within the gaming community, with many feeling Hall misrepresented the movement's goals. The ensuing confusion led to a visible drop in petition signatures in early 2025. To address this, Ross Scott, the founder of the SKG movement, published a detailed FAQ and follow-up videos throughout January and February 2025, clarifying that the movement's goal was not to keep every game online forever, but to ensure players had legal means and protections to acquire continued access once official support ends [2].
The movement has garnered support from notable figures in the gaming community, including MoistCr1TiKaL, PewDiePie, Jacksepticeye, and SomeOrdinaryGamers [4]. As the petition continues to gather signatures, the SKG movement continues to advocate for the preservation of video games, aiming to protect players’ investments and secure gaming as a cultural medium against the trend of online-only services being permanently disabled [1][3][5].
References: [1] Stop Killing Games. (n.d.). About. Retrieved from https://stopkillinggames.org/about/ [2] Scott, R. (2025, January 15). SKG FAQ. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_VQI3Cnkx0 [3] European Citizens' Initiative. (n.d.). Stop Killing Games. Retrieved from https://eci.ec.europa.eu/launchpad/en/stop-killing-games [4] PewDiePie. (2024, December 10). Tweet. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/pewdiepie/status/1470522575980024833 [5] Kotaku. (2024, December 14). The Stop Killing Games Movement Wants to Stop Game Publishers From Killing Their Games. Retrieved from https://kotaku.com/the-stop-killing-games-movement-wants-to-stop-game-publ-1849782975 [6] Hall, J. (2024, December 15). PirateSoftware's Criticism of Stop Killing Games. Retrieved from https://www.twitch.tv/piratesoftware/clip/ColdheartedSneakySnapperNerfRedBlaster
- The SKG movement recommends software updates for Xbox Series X and Xbox, suggesting they should include offline functionalities to ensure games remain playable post-support.
- Microsoft, the company behind Office and Windows, could support the SKG movement by integrating entertainment services that respect consumer rights, such as allowing continued access to games once official support ends.
- To maintain the long-term playability of video games, the SKG movement advocates for clearer licensing models, similar to the ones used in physical purchases, to protect digital goods like video games from being remotely disabled.
- The Xbox Series X gaming console, like other online-dependent games, could potentially be impacted by the SKG movement's objective to prevent publishers from remotely disabling games, ensuring consumers can continue playing even after server shutdowns or end of service.
