Key Takeaways
1. Accountability for Publishers: The European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) aims to hold game publishers accountable by requiring them to provide a playable version of games that rely on online servers once support is withdrawn.
2. Signatures and Support: The ECI has gathered over 540,000 verified signatures, with a goal of reaching 1 million by July 31 to prompt the European Commission to consider consumer protection laws.
3. UK Petition Challenges: A separate petition in the UK faces bureaucratic hurdles, needing 100,000 signatures for a Parliamentary debate, highlighting the differing legal landscapes in the EU and UK.
4. Future Focus: The initiative is not retroactive; it targets future game releases, allowing developers time to adapt without requiring them to surrender source code or key intellectual property.
5. Global Implications: Positive outcomes in the EU could influence global practices, potentially leading publishers to adopt similar preservation measures worldwide, benefiting players outside the EU.
GNCA has released a new video featuring Ross Scott from Accursed Farms. He is well-known for his ongoing battle against game publishers who erase titles that people have already bought. The main focus of the conversation is a serious issue: many modern games become unplayable as soon as companies shut down their servers. These aren’t just free games or temporary subscriptions; they’re full-priced games that can be taken away without any warning, leaving players empty-handed. Scott describes this situation as a flawed system where real ownership doesn’t exist, and publishers have no responsibility to ensure their games remain playable after purchase.
European Citizens’ Initiative
Central to the movement is a European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI), a legal way for EU citizens to propose new laws. This initiative seeks to make game publishers accountable by mandating that they provide a “reasonably playable” version of any game reliant on online servers once official support is withdrawn. Scott emphasizes that this wouldn’t require companies to keep servers running forever or share their source code. Instead, it might involve releasing basic server software, technical details, or simplified versions of the game that enable players to continue enjoying the game without needing the publisher’s servers.
Gathering Support
The initiative has already collected over 540,000 verified signatures, aiming for 1 million by the deadline on July 31. If they achieve this target, the European Commission will thoroughly examine the proposal and could introduce consumer protection laws across all EU nations. Scott believes this change could have international implications, as many developers might prefer to adopt uniform policies globally rather than manage different rules for various regions, similar to Valve’s international refund policy prompted by Australian legal actions.
The UK Petition
In parallel to the EU initiative, there’s another petition in the UK, but it faces more bureaucratic challenges. An earlier attempt was cut short when Parliament was dissolved, and the government’s response didn’t address the main concern, drawing criticism even from the petition committee. A new petition has been launched, requiring 100,000 signatures for a Parliamentary debate. Scott characterizes the UK’s legal system as less predictable and more divided, but he still views it as an important front in the fight for digital preservation rights.
Scott also clarifies some common misunderstandings regarding the initiative. It’s not retroactive, so it won’t affect games that have already been discontinued. Instead, it focuses on future releases, allowing developers a few years to adapt. Importantly, the proposal doesn’t ask for the surrender of source code or key intellectual property. The aim is merely to guarantee that paying customers keep access to a working version of their games. Scott mentions games like Guild Wars, which has been running for nearly twenty years, showing that long-term support is achievable, unlike titles such as The Crew and LawBreakers, which were taken offline suddenly without any refunds.
Global Context
For those outside the EU and UK, especially in the United States, there aren’t many immediate ways to affect the outcome. Scott points out that substantial legal changes in the US would likely need a Congressional act, which he considers unlikely given the current political situation. Still, he is optimistic that a positive result in the EU could have ripple effects globally. If publishers are forced to adopt preservation measures for the European market, it might be easier and cheaper for them to apply the same rules worldwide, thus benefiting players in other regions.
Scott frames the issue within a broader trend of digital disempowerment, where user ownership is increasingly undermined by strict licensing terms, mandatory server connections, and unclear shutdown policies. He views video games as a prime example of this trend, where companies are testing the limits of how much control they can keep over their sold products before facing public backlash. He draws parallels with the right-to-repair movement, equating the disappearance of games to real-life examples of printers or smart devices that become useless once support is terminated, even though they are still physically intact.
In conclusion, this moment represents a significant and actionable chance to resist the quiet decline of digital ownership. With both the European Citizens’ Initiative and the UK petition underway, there is an opportunity to establish meaningful protections for consumers before the gaming industry fully normalizes the practice of revoking access to purchased content without repercussions. For citizens in the EU and UK, this is more than just a symbolic action — it’s a real opportunity to influence enforceable policy. The links provided in the video offer a direct way to support this cause.
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