Stop Killing Games Hits 1 Million Signatures, Momentum Surges After Unlikely Catalyst
The Stop Killing Games (SKG) initiative has officially crossed the monumental 1 million signature mark, signifying a massive step forward in the fight for consumer rights in the video game industry. This critical milestone brings the campaign closer to its goal of enacting legislation that would compel publishers to ensure digital games remain playable even after online services are discontinued.
Born from the frustration of seeing beloved digital titles vanish when their servers go offline—a problem exemplified by Ubisoft’s notorious December 2023 takedown of The Crew, which included single-player content but required an online connection—SKG argues that consumers are currently sold games with “undisclosed used by dates.” This practice, championed by popular YouTuber Ross Scott, is likened to planned obsolescence and is deemed both unethical and historically harmful. The initiative is now seeking legal support through a European citizens’ initiative, pushing for laws that would force publishers to leave games in a playable condition.
While the initiative faced challenges, it has recently experienced an incredible surge in support. Yesterday, we saw the signature count nearing 800,000, and today it stands at 1,004,671. This rapid growth has been fueled by an “Avengers-like” assembly of major content creators. PewDiePie, Jacksepticeye, Asmongold, Moist Critical, and Charlie (Cr1TiKaL), among others, have rallied behind the cause, urging their massive audiences to sign. PewDiePie, for instance, declared his 100% support, noting its alignment with the concept of “ownership over Software and Games We Buy.” Moist Critical’s videos alone garnered millions of views, further amplifying the message.
Ironically, a significant push for these signatures came from an unlikely source: developer Jason Thor Hall, known online as Pirate Software. This individual, who claims 20 years in the gaming industry and worked at Blizzard, gained notoriety for his use of a fake voice recorder to deepen his voice. He publicly dismissed the SKG initiative as “used car salesman BS” in a video that amassed tens of thousands of dislikes. His argument, stemming from his position within a publishing entity, was that forcing publishers to keep games online indefinitely would be a significant financial burden. However, we maintain that developers could easily design games from the ground up to keep single-player content accessible; it is not, as he suggests, an impossible or unaffordable feat.
Pirate Software’s “uncalled for attack” on SKG appears to have backfired spectacularly. His controversial statements, which portray him as an “elitist prick” and a “wild villain,” inadvertently attracted even more attention and support for the campaign. Instead of discrediting the movement, his negative remarks galvanized the very community he sought to dismiss. We’ve seen him engage in unusual behavior, such as DMCA’ing a game that poked fun at him and banning notable streamers like WoW PvP player Peekaboo IRL from his Twitch channel, all while attempting to rebrand his natural voice.
Reaching 1 million signatures means the appeal is now directed at the European Commission, which is legally required to address it. Ross Scott will now have the opportunity to present the initiative directly to the Commission and speak at a public hearing in the European Parliament, significantly boosting the chances of SKG’s core objective becoming law in the EU. While 1 million is a monumental achievement, we still need to push for more. Ross Scott himself has stressed the need to reach 1.1 million or even 1.2-1.3 million signatures to create a “safety net” against potential scrutiny over duplicate or unverifiable entries. This push is crucial not just for European gamers, but also for American developers and players, as EU legislation often sets precedents for global standards. This is a truly important first step, reminiscent of broader issues we see with digital media, like movies disappearing or being altered. The fight to ensure we truly “own” the games we buy continues, and gamers are winning the first battle. If you are in the European Union, we urge you to sign the EU petition to help us achieve this crucial next milestone.
