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 fight isn’t over but.
The self-described shopper motion soared previous the goal yesterday, July 3, cementing its standing as an spectacular petition in gaming historical past and a motion that has lots of gasoline left within the tank. It’s all within the identify of defending the video video games gamers love – and even those they don’t – as the industry steadily marches towards a digital future.
Lots of video games we purchase in the present day are constructed to only stop working when the writer pulls the plug on em. It must stop. If you’re EU citizen please contemplate signing #stopkillinggames initiative. https://t.co/vlyIEXcpnh pic.twitter.com/nsTusFyGrL
— Pat_ (@Pat8_8) July 2, 2025
Social media feeds have since stuffed with reactions from supporters praising an operation that would help save multiplayer and single-player video games for future generations. While players take to the web to have a good time, spokesperson and organizer Ross Scott says reaching 1 million signatures is nice information however removed from a victory.
“OK, the breaking news: The European Citizens’ Initiative has crossed 1 million signatures – except it hasn’t,” Scott mentioned in a video update uploaded yesterday. (*1*)
It's an important variable within the equation on the highway to 1 million respectable Stop Killing Games endorsements, and it’s only one flaw to think about. The different includes experiences Scott has acquired relating to fabricated signatures that could possibly be artificially inflating the initiative’s progress.
“First off, I want to say that this is not a Change.org petition,” Scott provides. “This is a government process. Spoofing signatures on it is a crime. Please do not do this. They’ll be checked later by the EU commission, and my guess is the fake ones will get turned over to the Europol or Interpol, and they’ll follow up on this.”
To anybody who made a mistake or isn't sure in the event that they signed the EU initiative already, you may contact the official spokesperson (Daniel Ondruska) and he can direct you on how to succeed in the EU to type it out. His contact is on the web page beneath "more info"https://t.co/EpnNTDR85U
— Accursed Farms (@accursedfarms) July 4, 2025
To account for what could possibly be a vital quantity of invalid Stop Killing Games signatures, the initiative has altered its superb goal to be 1.4 million signatures. At 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 just keep plodding away unless we can figure out what the safe numbers are. Sorry this isn’t a big victory celebration. This is just kind of suspenseful and tense instead, and will probably hurt the morale of people signing.”
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Scott, who has created gaming content material by way of his Accursed Farms YouTube channel for more than a decade, launched Stop Killing Games in April 2024 as a direct response to Ubisoft’s decision to shut down its popular open-world racing game, The Crew. The motion goals to create a ripple impact that would shake the industry into holding video games online long after gamers lose curiosity.
It means all the things from The Crew to Concord may theoretically stay online to take pleasure in ought to the initiative amass enough public complaints to see the European Commission move a law defending shopper rights. Ideally, gamers may see live-service and multiplayer titles like BioWare’s Anthem, which was given a shutdown schedule simply yesterday, may proceed on in some kind ought to a writer determine to sundown assist. Success may additionally imply single-player video games that depend on online elements, such as Death Stranding or Dark Souls, may stay intact, too.
WEAK
I do know Anthem obtained panned, nevertheless it's one other instance of one which looks like it had a cool wanting world to run round in. I used to be focused on attempting it out and holding my expectations low. Yet one other instance of why SKG is so needed.https://t.co/fDsq0ZsP8K
— Accursed Farms (@accursedfarms) July 3, 2025
Stop Killing Games needs to avoid wasting the artwork that builders pour their hearts into whereas defending shoppers preferring to entry video games they’ve already paid for, and it’s a motion that a whole bunch of 1000’s of game gamers are already supporting. Following its promising launch final yr, nevertheless, the initiative struggled to keep up the assist it needed to push its means by to the eyes that needed 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. In the hour-long explainer piece, Scott listed a lack of publicity as one major trigger behind the shortage of assist. It was the Hail Mary the initiative needed, although, as distinguished YouTubers like Jacksepticeye, penquinz0/Cr1TiKaL, Ludwig, and more had been fast to voice their assist with their own videos.
All inside the weeks since Scott shared his issues, Stop Killing Games has gained a whole bunch of 1000’s of signatures, leading to a strong chunk of the more than 1 million names hooked up to the motion in the present day. Success stays unsure even when Scott is ready to attain that magic 1.4 million quantity, with even more uncertainty mendacity on the opposite aspect of that goal publish. Still, as outlined by Scott on the Stop Killing Games web site, he feels optimistic in regards to the future of game preservation if the signature goal is met.
"If we can pass the signature threshold," Scott says, "there is a very strong chance that the European Commission will pass new law that will both protect consumer rights to retain video games that customers have purchased and advance preservation efforts massively."
Should the phrase get out to enough people, gamers may see considerably of a return to the times when shopping for a game got here with the reassurance that it could stay playable regardless of post-launch interference. We’ll have all of the updates right here at IGN, however within the meantime, you may learn up on our coverage of Stop Killing Games' launch here. You also can try the other goals Stop Killing Games has managed to achieve previously yr. You also can study how digital PC storefront GOG is doing its part when it comes to game preservation.
Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He's finest recognized for his work at websites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to offer him a comply with on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).