Stop Killing Games: Difference between revisions
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|Website=https://www.stopkillinggames.com/ | |Website=https://www.stopkillinggames.com/ | ||
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'''Stop Killing Games''' ('''SKG''') is a campaign intended to spread awareness regarding publishers revoking licenses for consumers and removing game functionality so that they are no longer in a playable state. The campaign was announced on 2 April 2024 by Accursed Farms, better known as Ross W. Scott, an American [[YouTube|YouTuber]] and consumer activist who is best known for his Freeman's Mind series. | '''Stop Killing Games''' ('''SKG''') is a campaign intended to spread awareness regarding publishers revoking licenses for consumers and removing game functionality so that they are no longer in a playable state. The campaign was announced on 2 April 2024 by Accursed Farms, better known as Ross W. Scott, an American [[YouTube|YouTuber]] and consumer activist who is best known for his Freeman's Mind series. | ||
==Campaign history== | ==Campaign history== | ||
On 2 April 2024, Accursed Farms posted the video "The largest campaign ever to stop publishers destroying games".<ref>{{Cite web |author= | On 2 April 2024, Accursed Farms posted the video "The largest campaign ever to stop publishers destroying games".<ref>{{Cite web |author=Accursed_Farms |title=The largest campaign ever to stop publishers destroying games |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w70Xc9CStoE |website=[[YouTube]] |date=2 Apr 2024 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=w70Xc9CStoE |archive-date=12 Nov 2024}}</ref> In the video, Ross Scott explained the issue with modern gaming, where video game publishers often take advantage of laws.<!-- I wished to include a history of Ross Scott fighting to preserve games but I don't know if this is the best place --> | ||
Ross W. Scott has a history of advocating for game preservation and decrying what he calls "war on ownership" for over 12 years.<ref>{{Cite web | | Ross W. Scott has a history of advocating for game preservation and decrying what he calls "war on ownership" for over 12 years.<ref>{{Cite web |author1=Mrglanet |author2=Relvean |author3=Mira Snelder |author4=Erasmus Magnus |title=Stop Killing Games: A History |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlOX3wRQvUg |website=[[YouTube]] |date=12 May 2025 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live | ||
|archive-url= <!-- Too large for PreserveTube. Unable to archive on Wayback Machine, though someone with an account could try directly uploading the video. -Sojourna --> | |||
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}}</ref><!-- We need to explain the topics that Ross Scott discusses. For example, what points does he bring up? I haven't done this yet as that would require me going through the half-hour video and I don't have the time just yet to do that. If anybody else could do this, that would be amazing! --> | |||
===UK Parliament petition=== | ===UK Parliament petition=== | ||
On 16 April 2024, a UK Parliament petition titled "Require videogame publishers to keep games they have sold in a working state"<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |author= | On 16 April 2024, a UK Parliament petition titled "Require videogame publishers to keep games they have sold in a working state"<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |author= |title=Require videogame publishers to keep games they have sold in a working state |url=https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/659071 |website=UK Parliament Petitions |date=16 Apr 2024 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241114231235/https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/659071 |archive-date=14 Nov 2024}}</ref> began collecting signatures. The petition intended to create laws to prevent publishers from removing the ability to play games after purchase. The UK government answered on 2 May 2024, but the petitions committee requested Government to revise their response. The Government declined to do so. The petition was subsequently closed on 30 May 2024 due to the UK general elections,<ref name=":0" /> preventing further signatures. It reached 27,341 signatures and was originally scheduled to close on 16 October 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Batchelor |first=James |title=UK government responds to Stop Killing Games campaign |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/uk-government-responds-to-stop-killing-games-campaign |website=GamesIndustry |date=15 May 2024 |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240515115455/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/uk-government-responds-to-stop-killing-games-campaign |archive-date=15 May 2024}}</ref> | ||
On 14 January 2025, Lewis Evans created a petition titled "Prohibit publishers irrevocably disabling video games they have already sold"<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Lewis | On 14 January 2025, Lewis Evans created a petition titled "Prohibit publishers irrevocably disabling video games they have already sold"<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Lewis |title=Prohibit publishers irrevocably disabling video games they have already sold |url=https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/702074/ |website=UK Parliament Petitions |date=14 Jan 2025 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114104021/https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/702074/ |archive-date=14 Jan 2025}}</ref> closely following the prematurely closed petition in 2024. Ross Scott published a video listing the events of the original petition, the government response and the creation of new petition.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Accursed_Farms |title=Stop Killing Games: UK Edition |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQnZ91mUB0E |website=[[YouTube]] |date=14 Jan 2025 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=NQnZ91mUB0E |archive-date=2 Feb 2026}}</ref> | ||
On 3 February 2025, the UK Government responded to the Petition, "There are no plans to amend UK consumer law on disabling video games. Those selling games must comply with existing requirements in consumer law, and we will continue to monitor this issue."<ref name=":1" /> As of 2 July 2025, the petition reached the goal of 100,000 signatures to be considered for debate in the UK Parliament. | On 3 February 2025, the UK Government responded to the Petition, "There are no plans to amend UK consumer law on disabling video games. Those selling games must comply with existing requirements in consumer law, and we will continue to monitor this issue."<ref name=":1" /> As of 2 July 2025, the petition reached the goal of 100,000 signatures to be considered for debate in the UK Parliament. | ||
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===European Citizens' Initiative=== | ===European Citizens' Initiative=== | ||
On 19 June 2024, "'''Stop Destroying Videogames'''" was registered as a | On 19 June 2024, "'''Stop Destroying Videogames'''" was registered as a European Citizens' Initiative by Daniel Ondruska.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ondruska |first=Daniel |title=Stop Destroying Videogames |url=https://citizens-initiative.europa.eu/initiatives/details/2024/000007_en |website=European Citizens' Initiative |date=19 Jun 2024 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live | ||
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240619131907/https://citizens-initiative.europa.eu/initiatives/details/2024/000007_en |archive-date=19 Jun 2024}}</ref> A month and a half later, on 31 July 2024, the initiative began collecting signatures. | |||
For a European citizens' initiative to be valid, it must obtain at least one million valid signatures and meet the minimum thresholds in at least seven European Union countries. The deadline of the initiative was on 31 July 2025. By 25 June 2025, it had reached over 500,000 signatures, and finally met its goal of 1,000,000 on 3 July 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stop Destroying Videogames |url=https://eci.ec.europa.eu/045/public/#/screen/home |website=European Union Online Collection System |date= |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250703072953/https://eci.ec.europa.eu/045/public/#/screen/home |archive-date=3 Jul 2025}}</ref> | For a European citizens' initiative to be valid, it must obtain at least one million valid signatures and meet the minimum thresholds in at least seven European Union countries. The deadline of the initiative was on 31 July 2025. By 25 June 2025, it had reached over 500,000 signatures, and finally met its goal of 1,000,000 on 3 July 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stop Destroying Videogames |url=https://eci.ec.europa.eu/045/public/#/screen/home |website=European Union Online Collection System |date= |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250703072953/https://eci.ec.europa.eu/045/public/#/screen/home |archive-date=3 Jul 2025}}</ref> | ||
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====Social media coverage==== | ====Social media coverage==== | ||
Accursed Farms posted the video "Europeans can save gaming!" later the same day, encouraging European citizens to sign the initiative.<ref>{{Cite web |author= | Accursed Farms posted the video "Europeans can save gaming!" later the same day, encouraging European citizens to sign the initiative.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Accursed_Farms |title=Europeans can save gaming! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkMe9MxxZiI |website=[[YouTube]] |date=31 Jul 2024 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=mkMe9MxxZiI |archive-date=31 Jul 2024}}</ref> About a week later, Thor of Pirate Software published a video covering SKG, with the intent to negatively criticize SKG.<ref>{{Cite web |author=PirateSoftware |title=Stop Killing Games |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioqSvLqB46Y |website=[[YouTube]] |date=6 Aug 2024 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=ioqSvLqB46Y |archive-date=6 Aug 2024}}</ref> Ross from Accursed Farms attempted to contact Thor about having false assumptions of the campaign's objectives. Ross cited Pirate Software's video as the primary cause for signatures drying up on the European Citizens' Initiative petition. Ross also stated that they did not initially make a response video directed at Thor because "it might look like drama farming" for the campaign, but when the deadline began drawing near, Ross went through with making a response on 23 June 2025 as a last-ditch effort to save the campaign.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Accursed_Farm |title=The end of Stop Killing Games |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIfRLujXtUo |website=[[YouTube]] |date=23 Jun 2025 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=HIfRLujXtUo |archive-date=23 Jun 2025}}</ref> | ||
====European Union response==== | ====European Union response==== | ||
On 16 April 2026, members of the Stop Killing Games movement had a public hearing with the European Parliament Commission.<ref>{{Cite web |author= European Parliament |title= Stop destroying video games |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSla5vfGi3A |website=YouTube |date=16 Apr 2026 |url-status=live | | On 16 April 2026, members of the Stop Killing Games movement had a public hearing with the European Parliament Commission.<ref>{{Cite web |author=European Parliament |title=Stop destroying video games |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSla5vfGi3A |website=[[YouTube]] |date=16 Apr 2026 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=xSla5vfGi3A |archive-date=22 May 2026}}</ref> | ||
On 19 May 2026 the European Economic and Social Committee had a debate about the Stop Destroying Videogames ECI to which Stop Killing Games | On 19 May 2026 the European Economic and Social Committee had a debate about the Stop Destroying Videogames ECI to which Stop Killing Games had been invited to participate.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Stop Killing Games |title=EESC debate about Stop Destroying Videogames ECI (Original audio) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiAJg7nmkOQ |website=[[YouTube]] |date=19 May 2026 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=kiAJg7nmkOQ |archive-date=22 May 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Stop Killing Games |title=EESC debate about Stop Destroying Videogames ECI (English audio) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ai-uLTlQ-pA |website=[[YouTube]] |date=19 May 2026 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live | ||
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Following up the European Parliament public hearing from April, on 21 May 2026 the initiative was discussed in the European Parliament plenary session in Strasbourg with participation of the European Commission.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Stop Killing Games | Following up the European Parliament public hearing from April, on 21 May 2026 the initiative was discussed in the European Parliament plenary session in Strasbourg with participation of the European Commission.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Stop Killing Games |title=Stop Destroying Videogames ECI : European Parliament plenary session (Original audio) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GC-CDJKrBHw |website=[[YouTube]] |date=21 May 2026 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=GC-CDJKrBHw |archive-date=22 May 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Stop Killing Games |title=Stop Destroying Videogames ECI : European Parliament plenary session (English audio) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eh030cbyXAc |website=[[YouTube]] |date=21 May 2026 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=Eh030cbyXAc |archive-date=22 May 2026}}</ref> | ||
===California's Protect Our Games Act=== | ===California's Protect Our Games Act=== | ||
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==Industry push back== | ==Industry push back== | ||
On 4 July 2025, one day after the campaign reached 1,000,000 signatures, [[Video Games Europe]], an industry lobby group, released an statement on Stop Killing Games<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Statement on Stop Killing Games |url=https://www.videogameseurope.eu/news/statement-on-stop-killing-games/ |website=Videogames Europe |date=4 Jul 2025 |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250704203228/https://www.videogameseurope.eu/news/statement-on-stop-killing-games/ |archive-date=4 Jul 2025}}</ref> on their website and published a five-page position paper<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Why providing continued support do not work for all games |url=https://www.videogameseurope.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/VGE-Position-Discontinuation-of-Support-to-Online-Games-04072025.pdf |website=Videogames Europe |date=4 Jul 2025 |access-date=9 Jul 2025 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250704232256/https://www.videogameseurope.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/VGE-Position-Discontinuation-of-Support-to-Online-Games-04072025.pdf |archive-date=4 Jul 2025}}</ref> against the campaign where it outlined perceived problems seen by the industry even though some of those perceived problems were already clarified by the lengthy FAQ section provided by the campaign. | On 4 July 2025, one day after the campaign reached 1,000,000 signatures, [[Video Games Europe]], an industry lobby group, released an statement on Stop Killing Games<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Statement on Stop Killing Games |url=https://www.videogameseurope.eu/news/statement-on-stop-killing-games/ |website=Videogames Europe |date=4 Jul 2025 |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250704203228/https://www.videogameseurope.eu/news/statement-on-stop-killing-games/ |archive-date=4 Jul 2025}}</ref> on their website and published a five-page position paper<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Why providing continued support do not work for all games |url=https://www.videogameseurope.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/VGE-Position-Discontinuation-of-Support-to-Online-Games-04072025.pdf |website=Videogames Europe |date=4 Jul 2025 |access-date=9 Jul 2025 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250704232256/https://www.videogameseurope.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/VGE-Position-Discontinuation-of-Support-to-Online-Games-04072025.pdf |archive-date=4 Jul 2025 |format=PDF}}</ref> against the campaign where it outlined perceived problems seen by the industry even though some of those perceived problems were already clarified by the lengthy FAQ section provided by the campaign. | ||
Video Games Europe response was not only unsurprising but also expected since their board is composed from major publishers like [[Electronic Arts]], [[Ubisoft]], [[Nintendo]], [[Microsoft]] and [[Sony]], who see no problem in how the industry works today. | Video Games Europe response was not only unsurprising but also expected since their board is composed from major publishers like [[Electronic Arts]], [[Ubisoft]], [[Nintendo]], [[Microsoft]] and [[Sony]], who see no problem in how the industry works today. | ||
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<blockquote>"We provide a service, but nothing is written in stone, and at some point the service may be discontinued. Nothing is eternal. And we do our best to make sure things go well for our players and buyers, because obviously support for old games cannot last forever."</blockquote> | <blockquote>"We provide a service, but nothing is written in stone, and at some point the service may be discontinued. Nothing is eternal. And we do our best to make sure things go well for our players and buyers, because obviously support for old games cannot last forever."</blockquote> | ||
On 21 July 2025, Ross Scott uploaded a video showcasing serious accusations made against the European initiative from an anonymous source.<ref>{{Cite web |author= | On 21 July 2025, Ross Scott uploaded a video showcasing serious accusations made against the European initiative from an anonymous source.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Accursed_Farms |title=The industry filed false claims against the "Stop Killing Games" initiative |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQN_ZA5WRpo |website=[[YouTube]] |date=21 Jul 2025 |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=fQN_ZA5WRpo |archive-date=21 Jul 2025}}</ref> The accusations were relayed by the European Commission to Ross Scott and are:<br> | ||
<blockquote> | <blockquote> | ||
1. False "No Funding" Declaration<br> | 1. False "No Funding" Declaration<br> | ||
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In the video Ross demonstrated how the accusations had no ground to stand on, and the process of communication that happened with the European Commission to verify the correctness of the campaign before it even began in July 2024. The document with the accusations can be found [https://mega.nz/file/W3YTHCqQ#i-D2f_fgILqBILJiavLwX-eh3pUPGnYeaQfdadiFH20 here].<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title= 250711SDVG_Complaint-1 .pdf |url=https://mega.nz/file/W3YTHCqQ#i-D2f_fgILqBILJiavLwX-eh3pUPGnYeaQfdadiFH20 |website=MEGA |date=21 Jul 2025 |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |url-status=live |format=PDF |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250918074346/https://mega.nz/file/W3YTHCqQ |archive-date=18 Sep 2025}}</ref> | In the video Ross demonstrated how the accusations had no ground to stand on, and the process of communication that happened with the European Commission to verify the correctness of the campaign before it even began in July 2024. The document with the accusations can be found [https://mega.nz/file/W3YTHCqQ#i-D2f_fgILqBILJiavLwX-eh3pUPGnYeaQfdadiFH20 here].<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title= 250711SDVG_Complaint-1 .pdf |url=https://mega.nz/file/W3YTHCqQ#i-D2f_fgILqBILJiavLwX-eh3pUPGnYeaQfdadiFH20 |website=MEGA |date=21 Jul 2025 |access-date=10 Nov 2025 |url-status=live |format=PDF |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250918074346/https://mega.nz/file/W3YTHCqQ |archive-date=18 Sep 2025}}</ref> | ||
On an undisclosed date, the [[Entertainment Software Association]] (ESA) filed a comment against the Protect Our Games Act.<ref>{{ | On an undisclosed date, the [[Entertainment Software Association]] (ESA) filed a comment against the Protect Our Games Act.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Stop Killing Games |title=The Industry is lobbying against Stop Killing Games! (again) |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/StopKillingGames/comments/1t9ne7c/the_industry_is_lobbying_against_stop_killing/ |website=[[Reddit]] |date=11 May 2026 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/9VefS |archive-date=22 May 2026}}</ref> Despite the push-back, the bill passed on 14 May 2026. | ||
==Video game preservation== | ==Video game preservation== | ||
{{Main|Video game preservation}} | {{Main|Video game preservation}} | ||
There are also efforts to restore older games, or to allow the gaming community to have access to the source code of the games themselves. In 2025, there were several developments by major publishers, such as [[Valve]] and [[EA]]. Valve released the source code of {{Wplink|Team Fortress 2}} in February.<ref>{{Cite web | | There are also efforts to restore older games, or to allow the gaming community to have access to the source code of the games themselves. In 2025, there were several developments by major publishers, such as [[Valve]] and [[EA]]. Valve released the source code of ''{{Wplink|Team Fortress 2}}'' in February.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=The TF2 SDK has arrived! |url=https://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=238809 |website=Team Fortress |date=18 Feb 2025 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250218201538/https://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=238809 |archive-date=18 Feb 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Valve Releases Team Fortress 2 Source Code, Now open to Modders |url=https://bitskins.com/blog/valve-releases-team-fortress-2-source-code-now-open-to-modders/ |website=BitSkins |date=21 Feb 2025 |access-date=22 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250310111654/https://bitskins.com/blog/valve-releases-team-fortress-2-source-code-now-open-to-modders/ |archive-date=10 Mar 2025}}</ref> EA released the source code of [[EA releases source code of classic command and conquer titles|classic command and conquer titles]], also in February 2025. | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||