Stop Killing Games
Imagine buying a car and one day the manufacturer disables it remotely, removes it from your driveway, and tells you it no longer exists. You paid for it. You still want to use it. But too bad, it is gone.
That is exactly what is happening in the video game industry.
In the last few years, game publishers have been quietly setting a dangerous precedent. They are removing games from digital libraries, shutting down servers, and making titles you paid for completely unplayable. No refunds. No warning. No control.
And it is not just online multiplayer games. Even single-player experiences are being locked behind server access, meaning when official support ends, your game is gone for good.
That is why the Stop Killing Games campaign matters.
What is Stop Killing Games
Stop Killing Games is a consumer movement started by content creator Ross Scott after Ubisoft permanently shut down its racing game The Crew. Even players who bought it could no longer access it.
The campaign demands a simple but important change. When a game is no longer supported, publishers must allow offline play or provide tools for private servers. No one should lose access to a game they paid for.
With more than one million signatures gathered across Europe and the UK, this campaign is now pushing governments to take action.
Why This Matters
You do not really own your games anymore
When you buy a game digitally, you are not buying the game itself. You are buying a license to access it. And that license can be taken away at any time.
Publishers use legal tricks to justify deleting access to games people have already paid for. This is not right, and it needs to stop.
Games are part of our culture
Games are not just entertainment. They are part of modern culture. They include music, art, stories, ideas, and memories. When a game is removed forever, a piece of culture is destroyed.
Many older games have already been lost because of this. If we do nothing, many more will disappear.
It rewards bad business models
Some companies want to control everything. They want people to keep buying the same games again and again. They want subscriptions instead of ownership. They want control, not fairness.
That is why they are making games that need constant online access. That is why they shut them down when they want to move on to the next big release.
This is not about what is best for players. It is about profit.
What Needs to Change
The campaign is asking for three simple things:
- Games must have an offline mode where possible
- When a game shuts down, companies must allow private servers or give people access to the tools
- Laws must protect people’s right to play what they paid for
That is it. Nothing extreme. Just basic fairness.
What You Can Do
- Sign the petition if you live in the UK or Europe
- Share the website and spread awareness
- Call out companies that shut down games without giving players options
Visit www.stopkillinggames.com to learn more and take action.
Final Thoughts
This is bigger than games. It is about whether you own what you buy. It is about standing up to companies that want full control over your digital life. It is about saying no to a future where everything can be taken away without your permission.
Stop Killing Games is not just a campaign. It is a line in the sand. If we do not stand up now, we may lose the right to own anything online.
Let us stop this before it becomes the new normal.
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