A new petition that aims to stop publishers suddenly ending support for their games is trying to raise the profile of games preservation.
As more and more video games become unplayable, thanks to publishers shutting down online servers and stores, game preservation has become a hot topic in the industry.
This lead to a The Crew fan trying to sue Ubisoft after the publisher shut down the game entirely, while Xbox has addressed the issue promising fans full backwards compatibility with its next console.
A group of gamers have today started asking for signatures to their European citizen’s initiative, in hopes of creating legal framework to stop publishers ending support for games that rely on online connectivity.
The initiative is called Stop Destroying Videogames and has already reached 11,786 signatures, with statements of support from gamers in 27 different European countries. Although unfortunately that doesn’t include the UK.
The petition can only be signed by those who live in a European Union country, as the site, the European Citizens’ Initiative, is set up to give people a chance to take their issues to EU policymakers. Although if it does force publishers to change their policies that should lead to worldwide change.
In its brief, Stop Destroying Videogames says it ‘calls to require publishers that sell or license videogames to consumers in the European Union […] to leave said videogames in a functional (playable) state.’
The initiative is invoking a number of EU laws, including Article 17 §1 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, which states:
‘No one may be deprived of his or her possessions, except in the public interest and in the cases and under the conditions provided for by law, subject to fair compensation being paid in good time for their loss.’
The initiative is arguing that fans who pay for a video game should be able to expect it to remain playable, and not lose support at the discretion of the publisher.
You can read the full brief, and sign the petition if you’re able, on this webpage.
The initiative lays out its cause in no uncertain terms:
‘Video games have grown into an industry with billions of customers worth hundreds of billions of euros. During this time, a specific business practice in the industry has been slowly emerging that is not only an assault on basic consumer rights but is destroying the medium itself.
‘An increasing number of publishers are selling video games that are required to connect through the internet to the game publisher, or ‘phone home’ to function.
‘While this is not a problem in itself, when support ends for these types of games, very often publishers simply sever the connection necessary for the game to function, proceed to destroy all working copies of the game, and implement extensive measures to prevent the customer from repairing the game in any way.’
The cause is spearheaded by Ross Scott, known for his YouTube channel Accursed Farms, who is the one who wanted to sue Ubisoft over shutting down The Crew earlier this year.
The YouTuber has become a popular voice in anti-live service game and game preservation circles, and is pushing the new initiative with a video called ‘Europeans can save gaming.’
There’s a long way to go for the initiative to be considered by the European Commission, however, as it will need one million signatures to be heard.
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