The Stop Killing Games campaign has reached a pivotal 1 million signature benchmark in its battle to safeguard video game preservation, though significant challenges remain ahead.
This grassroots consumer movement surpassed its milestone on July 3, establishing itself as one of gaming's most noteworthy petitions while showing continued momentum. Its central mission focuses on protecting players' access to purchased titles as the industry increasingly shifts toward digital distribution.
A lot of games we buy today are built to just stop working when the publisher pulls the plug on em. It needs to stop. If you are EU citizen please consider signing #stopkillinggames initiative. https://t.co/vlyIEXcpnh
Social platforms have buzzed with positive reactions from supporters celebrating what could become a landmark moment for game preservation. While the gaming community cheers, organizer Ross Scott cautions this milestone doesn't guarantee success.
"Breaking news: The European Citizens' Initiative has crossed 1 million signatures – except it hasn't," Scott explained in a recent video update. "Signature validation remains an issue, and we're also seeing reports of potentially fraudulent submissions. This is a government process - falsifying signatures constitutes a crime."
The campaign has since adjusted its target to 1.4 million signatures to account for verification issues. As of publication, the petition stands at 1.07 million endorsements before its July 31 deadline.
The Preservation Movement
Scott, creator of the Accursed Farms YouTube channel, established Stop Killing Games in April 2024 following Ubisoft's shutdown of The Crew. The initiative aims to force legislative action ensuring continued access to games after official support ends.
Potential impacts could extend beyond multiplayer titles to single-player experiences with online dependencies, affecting franchises like Dark Souls. The movement gained renewed attention after prominent YouTubers including Jacksepticeye and Ludwig amplified its message.
Despite recent momentum, Scott maintains cautious optimism: "If we reach our signature goal, there's strong potential for new EU legislation protecting consumer rights and advancing game preservation efforts."
