Lawmakers in the European Union may soon have to discussthe issue of video games, both on console andPC, being rendered unplayable if a recent petition continues to pick up steam. Given how much of the industry has turned to digital distribution as a means of selling games to consumers, the concerns about license terminations andending support for purchased video gamesare becoming a great concern for many. Players who purchase most modern titles aren’t buying the game, they’re merely acquiring a license to play it, meaning they have little control over the product.
Over on theEuropean Citizens' Initiative website,the petition “Stop Destroying Videogames” is gaining traction as the movement has managed to acquire over 330,000 signaturessince it was launched on July 17, 2025. The objective is to prevent publishers and developers from selling games to consumers only to have said game shut down at a later date, rendering the product effectively non-functional. The petition is targeting a goal of 1,000,000 signatures at which point the European Commission will consider the complaint and possibly suggest legislature to solve the issue.
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Could The Petition Result In Change?
It’s Possible But It’ll Be Tough
When it comes to what the petition organizers are hoping to achieve,the goal is to prevent “the remote disabling of video games by the publishers” without an offer of compensation or a solution for consumers to continue playingthe product. It clarifies that it isn’t looking to acquire ownership rights, monetization rights, and intellectual rights to any property or product, simply the ability to continue playing a purchased game once support has been terminated. If the goal is reached and the Commission agrees on a solution, it could fundamentally change the way modern games are designed.
Given the traction the petition’s already generated, it’s certainly possible thatthe required 1 million signatureswill be reached before August 20, 2025. Whether or not a law is passed to prevent publishers fromshutting down video gameswithout a plan for continued functionality remains to be seen.Even if the petition is successful, there’s no guarantee that the European Commission will do anything about itif it’s not deemed to be a significant enough issue.
European citizens who want to sign the petition can do so on the European Citizens' Initiative’s website.It’s worth noting that a similar process is currently underway in Australia; it’s encouraging to see consumers around the globe fight for their rights. For those who’ve managed to accrue a decent collection ofPCgames, it would be good to know it’s not going anyway.
