In 2024, YouTuber Ross 'Accursed Farms' Scott founded the Stop Killing Games initiative after Ubisoft announced that they were shutting down their always-online racer The Crew. The movement's aim is to make it illegal for publishers to make games unplayable, such as Anthem and Concord, although this is unlikely to be achieved in the US, where Scott is based. So, the movement looked to Europe instead, because changing the law elsewhere can lead to policy changes worldwide, as we saw when Australia forced Steam to allow refunds.
For the European Commission to consider debating the Stop Killing Games, one million signatures are required. Last year, in July, it crossed the threshold of 1.4 million, but each of these had to be verified before the procedure could continue. So Scott and the rest of the team urged people to keep spreading the petition and raising awareness to get even more signatures to counter any invalidation, either from bad faith actors or well-meaning supporters outside of Europe.
The basic message is that when you buy a copy of a game, you get to keep it, and publishers shouldn't be able to screw up what you've already paid for. This concept is so basic that it's still a joke that we even have to fight for this. So don't let the industry throw you off the scent, especially in the future. If something doesn't pass the smell test, push back – Ross.
Now, almost a year later, we have a concrete number: as noted by Moritz Katzner on r/StopKillingGames, the EU petition has amassed a credible 1.294 million signatures, meaning it is now eligible for debate in the European Commission.
“It's going pretty fast now”
“We intended to reveal everything through a video, along with a redesigned website, a restructured Discord, and several other updates that I — ironically — still can't talk about yet,” Katzner explained. “Please be patient with the team. We're doing this because we believe in it, and because we believe what we're doing is right. None of us get paid for this. We all have jobs, families and responsibilities, and for some, the past few weeks have been tough. Keep that in mind.”
The country with the most signatures was Germany, with 233,180.
Even with this milestone, it's worth tempering expectations. Stop Killing Games was debated in the UK Parliament on November 3, 2025, and while MPs agreed that publishers should “provide avenues for players to keep or repair games” and shutting down servers for online titles is tantamount to erasing “a cultural and artistic heritage vital to society”, no changes were made to the law.
The industry has also lobbied against the move over the past year, with Video Games Europe arguing that it is “too expensive for developers and publishers to offer private servers or single-player modes” and that community-driven options “could create legal obligations for companies.” However, campaigners, including Ross, argue that this recovery only proves that the movement still has a chance, as it clearly puts pressure on publishers.
Still, crossing the threshold of one million verified signatures is a monumental achievement and a big step forward for the campaign.
What is the Stop Killing Games initiative and why is everyone talking about it now?
Everyone is talking about Stop Killing Games. But why? And what is it?
