Back in April 2024, I wrote about the Stop Killing Games initiative from Ross at Accursed Farms. Now, it's heading to the European Union with a European Citizens' Initiative you can give you vote to. Sorry fellow Brits, but thanks to Brexit we can't get involved in this. If you're part of the European Union though, you can now truly try and make your voice count.
As a reminder on what it's all about from the ECI:
This initiative calls to require publishers that sell or license videogames to consumers in the European Union (or related features and assets sold for videogames they operate) to leave said videogames in a functional (playable) state.
Specifically, the initiative seeks to prevent the remote disabling of videogames by the publishers, before providing reasonable means to continue functioning of said videogames without the involvement from the side of the publisher.
The initiative does not seek to acquire ownership of said videogames, associated intellectual rights or monetization rights, neither does it expect the publisher to provide resources for the said videogame once they discontinue it while leaving it in a reasonably functional (playable) state.
It's a worthy cause, because some publishers do have a habit of shutting down games when they move on, leaving players with nothing to show for it even though they paid for it. Games that contain a single-player element especially should always have an option to let you continue on. It's a bit more complicated for online-only games, say for those that have micro-transactions and battle passes, but still you're often spending a whole lot of your money to be again left with nothing.
Check out the initiative and give your vote. See more on the Stop Killing Games website.
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Some you may have missed, popular articles from the last month:
Mountain Man Aug 2
Quoting: Deleted_UserYou can't expect the entire global software industry to suddenly go open source just because some gamers in Europe have their noses out of joint. It's never going to happen. And that's not even considering the fact that a lot of developers use licensed intellectual property, music, and artwork in their games that they can't simply give away. You say it's not the consumer's problem, but it is, and they already have 100% control over the situation: If you have any concern whatsoever that an online service for a game might be discontinued at some point in the future, then don't buy that game.Quoting: Mountain ManAssuming it's not proprietary or licensed. That's one part of this debate that is never considered, that developers may not legally be able to release their games for free.I don't see why this should be the consumers problem instead of the developers. If a legislation is enacted according to the initiave, than such kind of licensing isn't the way to go (within EU) anymore, so what? THEN the market could sort out the rest.
To be frank, if the government takes up this cause and passes legislation saying that companies must make their games available to consumers in perpetuity, then I can see a lot of developers and publishers deciding that the EU market isn't worth the trouble.
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Quoting: Mountain ManTo be frank, if the government takes up this cause and passes legislation saying that companies must make their games available to consumers in perpetuity, then I can see a lot of developers and publishers deciding that the EU market isn't worth the trouble.Easy to see you didn't read the initiative. Or even the article. And that you're not European. You just want to knee-jerk about regulation being bad.
Businesses will not simply give up a big chunk of their customer base just because they don't get to make up the rules as they go. They keep threatening to, but they just don't. They're not in it for the ideology after all.
3 Likes, Who?
Mountain Man Aug 2
Quoting: tuubiYou're right that I'm not European, but I am familiar with this initiative and its pipe dream goals of essentially strong arming game developers into releasing their products for free after there is no longer a viable market for them, and I can tell you right now, that's never going to happen.Quoting: Mountain ManTo be frank, if the government takes up this cause and passes legislation saying that companies must make their games available to consumers in perpetuity, then I can see a lot of developers and publishers deciding that the EU market isn't worth the trouble.Easy to see you didn't read the initiative. Or even the article. And that you're not European. You just want to knee-jerk about regulation being bad.
Businesses will not simply give up a big chunk of their customer base just because they don't get to make up the rules as they go. They keep threatening to, but they just don't. They're not in it for the ideology after all.
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Quoting: Mountain ManI am familiar with this initiative and its pipe dream goals of essentially strong arming game developers into releasing their products for free after there is no longer a viable market for themDoesn't seem like you are familiar with it, seeing as it doesn't try to force anyone to release anything for free. At least read the three paragraph quote in the article before you build up any more straw men.
6 Likes, Who?
Caldathras Aug 2
Pro-consumer initiatives put forward by the EU in the past have positively impacted the global market. I might live in North America, but I am definitely rooting for the EU citizens and their efforts to bring this to pass.
4 Likes, Who?
Mountain Man Aug 2
Quoting: tuubiI did read the article, as well as previous articles about this initiative, and I stand by my comment. What they're demanding is simply not realistic and will most likely encourage developers and publishers out of the European market, or perhaps release special "EU Exclusive" titles that are basically crippled out of the box.Quoting: Mountain ManI am familiar with this initiative and its pipe dream goals of essentially strong arming game developers into releasing their products for free after there is no longer a viable market for themDoesn't seem like you are familiar with it, seeing as it doesn't try to force anyone to release anything for free. At least read the three paragraph quote in the article before you build up any more straw men.
As I said, the power already rests in the hands of the consumers. If you don't like that a game could be "remotely disabled" (talk about a straw man!), then don't buy it. It's as simple as that. No heavy-handed government involvement necessary.
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Kimyrielle Aug 2
Quoting: CaldathrasPro-consumer initiatives put forward by the EU in the past have positively impacted the global market. I might live in North America, but I am definitely rooting for the EU citizens and their efforts to bring this to pass.
Same. If the EU forces studios to release server software etc., it's not that we wouldn't be able to download it from our side of the pond :D
1 Likes, Who?
Kimyrielle Aug 2
Quoting: Mountain ManWhat they're demanding is simply not realistic and will most likely encourage developers and publishers out of the European market, or perhaps release special "EU Exclusive" titles that are basically crippled out of the box.
As I said, the power already rests in the hands of the consumers. If you don't like that a game could be "remotely disabled" (talk about a straw man!), then don't buy it. It's as simple as that. No heavy-handed government involvement necessary.
It might not go anywhere, but not for the reason you stated. I frankly don't understand which part of "release the server software and/or remove the DRM when you're commercially done with a game" isn't 'realistic'. Of course it is, and it would cost studios near nothing to publish the required components when they stop monetizing a game.
The reason why it won't happen is more like because governments don't care enough, or don't want to interfere with the Holy Free Market, and not because it couldn't be done.
3 Likes, Who?
Quoting: Mountain ManWhat they're demanding is simply not realistic and will most likely encourage developers and publishers out of the European market, or perhaps release special "EU Exclusive" titles that are basically crippled out of the box.I suppose it might happen some day. Although if a dev/publisher does something like that, I bet they'll lose way more than just EU customers due to the backlash. The gamble seems worth it to me. You might sympathise with corporations over gamers, but it's not European gamers versus the rest, as evidenced by the comments here alone.
3 Likes, Who?
Nateman1000 Aug 3
Quoting: KimyrielleLegally, I can't see initiatives like this going anywhere. Our society seems to ban undesirable business practices only when people start dying, and otherwise let "the market" sort it out. In other words, do nothing and let businesses screw their customers for fun and profit.
That being said, maybe it will create some public pressure on studios that this practice is considered unacceptable by their customers and they need to do better.
I would sign it if I could, but I am not in the EU. I hope everyone there does, though! :)
The way European Citizen’s Initiatives work is if it gets 1 million signatures the EU parliament has to vote on the proposal. And the EU has been pushing for pro consumer tech regulations. They’re why apple finally caved to allow USB C and RCS.
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