- Primary Subject: Stop Killing Games (EU Citizens’ Initiative)
- Key Update: The Stop Killing Games initiative passed EU verification with over 1.29 million valid signatures, forcing formal European Commission review.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: January 26, 2026
- Quick Answer: Stop Killing Games cleared EU verification with 1.29M valid signatures, advancing to formal Commission review over rules requiring publishers to keep games playable after shutdowns.
Formally filed in the EU as “Stop Destroying Videogames,” Stop Killing Games has reached the stage where it is no longer just public pressure, but an initiative EU institutions are required to address.
After months of verification, the final confirmed count landed at 1,294,188 verified signatures out of 1,448,270 submitted, meaning the initiative comfortably cleared the one-million verified minimum needed to move forward in the European Commission process.
The real victory is the verification, because signature numbers mean nothing until governments confirm they are valid, and this campaign did far more than just pass.
According to the team, the invalidation rate appears lower than expected for a European Citizens’ Initiative, and since organizers and backers believe Stop Killing Games ranks among the more successful efforts, there’s less concern that the final count will drop sharply after validation.
Where Did This Movement Start and Why?
The campaign started in 2024 and was launched by YouTuber Ross “Accursed Farms” Scott after Ubisoft shut down The Crew, highlighting an issue many players had already faced where modern games, especially always-online titles, can become completely unplayable despite being sold as full products.
This issue is why advocates regularly reference games like Anthem and Concord, while recent shutdowns continue to fuel the movement’s momentum and visibility.
The initiative isn’t asking for every server to stay online forever; it’s asking publishers to plan end-of-life access so games remain playable after support ends.
In practical terms, supporters frame this as enabling offline play when possible, or allowing legal alternatives that help communities preserve games, with private servers and community-run options often cited as the clearest path.
The core point is simple and direct: paying for a game should mean you don’t lose access just because a publisher turns it off.
Why Did the Campaign Focus on Europe Instead of the US?
That same simplicity explains why the movement focused on Europe, as Scott and the team believe changing US law is unlikely, while the EU has a strong history of consumer protection that can influence other regions.
If an EU rule makes games that can be shut down harder to sell, publishers may need to change how they design and retire online games worldwide, since running different systems for each region is costly and complicated.
Supporters describe this as the EU’s “Brussels effect”: once Europe becomes the strictest market, companies often standardize around the higher standard rather than create multiple versions of the same product.
That is part of why EU thresholds matter so much, because this is not only about one region, but about making end-of-life access a standard expectation in game development and publishing.
Who Shared the Latest Update and Why Was It Handled Carefully?
The issue made headlines again when volunteer organizer Moritz Katzner presented the verified figures and addressed why the team took a careful approach with the announcement.
Katzner explained that instead of doing a dramatic victory rollout, they chose a limited and careful update so they would not reveal plans to lobbying groups, go public before they were fully ready, or overwork a volunteer team already stretched thin.
He also reminded supporters that the campaign isn’t run by an institution, but by ordinary people balancing work, family life, and personal stress, which is why they’ve continued to ask for patience as they get ready for the next phase.
The signature breakdown by country, alongside the verified total, identified Germany as the strongest contributor at 233,180, with France and Poland close behind, underscoring that the initiative’s backing is widespread across major European nations.
What Happens Next Now That the Signatures Are Verified?
With verification complete, the initiative now enters the formal EU process that puts publishers under pressure as engagement with institutions in Brussels begins.
Katzner indicated the handover is expected around mid to late February, after which the ECI process requires EU bodies to formally engage.
This phase usually includes meetings with Commission officials, a public hearing at the European Parliament, and a formal response from the Commission explaining whether it will propose legislation, pursue other measures like guidance or consultations, or decline the request.
While backers are energized, there is also clear recognition within the community that this is not a guaranteed path to new legislation, but the opening stage of a difficult process in the EU, where initiatives frequently result in partial outcomes.
Still, getting through verification shows the campaign has achieved something rare, moving the issue into a formal policy pathway rather than leaving it as a public relations dispute publishers can ignore.
For more like this, stick with us here at Gfinityesports.com, the best website for gaming news.