The Stop Killing Games initiative has reached the essential 1 million signatures milestone in its quest to protect video video games for a long time to return, however its combat isn’t over but.
The self-described shopper motion soared previous the purpose yesterday, July 3, cementing its standing as a powerful petition in gaming historical past and a motion that has loads of fuel left within the tank. It’s all within the title of defending the video video games gamers love – and even those they don’t – as the trade steadily marches towards a digital future.
Lots of video games we purchase right this moment are constructed to simply cease working when the writer pulls the plug on em. It must cease. If you’re EU citizen please take into account signing #stopkillinggames initiative. https://t.co/vlyIEXcpnh pic.twitter.com/nsTusFyGrL
— Pat_ (@Pat8_8) July 2, 2025
Social media feeds have since crammed with reactions from supporters praising an operation that might assist save multiplayer and single-player video games for future generations. Whereas avid gamers take to the web to rejoice, spokesperson and organizer Ross Scott says reaching 1 million signatures is sweet information however removed from a victory.
“OK, the breaking information: The European Residents’ Initiative has crossed 1 million signatures – besides it hasn’t,” Scott stated in a video update uploaded yesterday. “That is going to kill morale, however there are two issues occurring right here. The primary we knew was coming. Each time any individual makes a mistake once they signal the Initiative, their signature will get invalidated. So which means we’d like extra signatures to make up for all people’s errors.”
It is an vital variable within the equation on the street to 1 million official Stop Killing Games endorsements, and it’s only one flaw to think about. The opposite includes stories Scott has obtained concerning fabricated signatures that may very well be artificially inflating the initiative’s progress.
“First off, I wish to say that this isn’t a Change.org petition,” Scott provides. “This can be a authorities course of. Spoofing signatures on it’s a crime. Please don’t do that. They’ll be checked later by the EU fee, and my guess is the pretend ones will get turned over to the Europol or Interpol, and so they’ll comply with up on this.”
To anybody who made a mistake or is not certain in the event that they signed the EU initiative already, you’ll be able to contact the official spokesperson (Daniel Ondruska) and he can direct you on easy methods to attain the EU to kind it out. His contact is on the web page below “extra data”https://t.co/EpnNTDR85U
— Accursed Farms (@accursedfarms) July 4, 2025
To account for what may very well be a major variety of invalid Stop Killing Games signatures, the initiative has altered its preferrred purpose to be 1.4 million signatures. On the time of this story’s publication, Stop Killing Games has reached 1.07 million endorsements forward of its July 31 finish date.
“So, yeah, that sucks,” Scott continued. “We’ll simply hold trudging away until we are able to determine what the secure numbers are. Sorry this isn’t a giant victory celebration. That is simply form of suspenseful and tense as an alternative, and can most likely damage the morale of individuals signing.”
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Scott, who has created gaming content material by way of his Accursed Farms YouTube channel for greater than a decade, launched Stop Killing Games in April 2024 as a direct response to Ubisoft’s determination to close down its common open-world racing sport, The Crew. The motion goals to create a ripple impact that might shake the trade into holding video games on-line lengthy after gamers lose curiosity.
It means every little thing from The Crew to Harmony might theoretically stay on-line to take pleasure in ought to the initiative amass sufficient public complaints to see the European Fee cross a legislation defending shopper rights. Ideally, gamers might see live-service and multiplayer titles like BioWare’s Anthem, which was given a shutdown schedule simply yesterday, might proceed on in some type ought to a writer resolve to sundown help. Success might additionally imply single-player video games that depend on on-line elements, such as Loss of life Stranding or Darkish Souls, might stay intact, too.
WEAK
I do know Anthem bought panned, nevertheless it’s one other instance of 1 that looks like it had a cool wanting world to run round in. I used to be occupied with attempting it out and holding my expectations low. One more instance of why SKG is so wanted.https://t.co/fDsq0ZsP8K
— Accursed Farms (@accursedfarms) July 3, 2025
Stop Killing Games needs to save lots of the artwork that builders pour their hearts into whereas defending customers preferring to entry video games they’ve already paid for, and it’s a motion that a whole bunch of hundreds of sport gamers are already supporting. Following its promising launch final yr, nevertheless, the initiative struggled to keep up the help it wanted to push its method by means of to the eyes that wanted to see it.
Stop Killing Games’ possibilities at a profitable marketing campaign grew to become so dire that Scott went as far as to publish a video titled “The end of Stop Killing Games” simply final week. Within the hour-long explainer piece, Scott listed an absence of publicity as one major trigger behind the dearth of help. It was the Hail Mary the initiative wanted, although, as distinguished YouTubers like Jacksepticeye, penquinz0/Cr1TiKaL, Ludwig, and extra had been fast to voice their help with their very own movies.
All throughout the weeks since Scott shared his issues, Stop Killing Games has gained a whole bunch of hundreds of signatures, leading to a strong chunk of the greater than 1 million names hooked up to the motion right this moment. Success stays unsure even when Scott is ready to attain that magic 1.4 million quantity, with much more uncertainty mendacity on the opposite aspect of that purpose publish. Nonetheless, as outlined by Scott on the Stop Killing Games web site, he feels optimistic about the way forward for sport preservation if the signature purpose is met.
“If we are able to cross the signature threshold,” Scott says, “there’s a very sturdy probability that the European Fee will cross new legislation that can each shield shopper rights to retain video video games that prospects have bought and advance preservation efforts massively.”
Ought to the phrase get out to sufficient people, gamers might see considerably of a return to the times when shopping for a sport got here with the reassurance that it might stay playable no matter post-launch interference. We’ll have all the updates right here at IGN, however within the meantime, you’ll be able to learn up on our protection of Stop Killing Games’ launch right here. You can too take a look at (*1*) previously yr. You can too study how digital PC storefront GOG is doing its half on the subject of sport preservation.
Michael Cripe is a contract contributor with IGN. He is greatest identified for his work at websites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. You should definitely give him a comply with on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).