But it will work to develop a voluntary code of conduct for developers and publishers.
The European Commission has chosen not to require video game companies to continue supporting their titles online once they are no longer available for purchase. Instead, the regulator said it would “explore ways to improve industry standards” for games that may become unavailable to their audiences.
The regulator has taken up the topic through a grassroots effort known as Stop Killing Games, which collected enough signatures last year for the issue of online gaming preservation to be brought before the Commission. While it will not move forward with legislation that it says could not be enacted due to existing copyright and intellectual property laws, the EC’s next steps will include working with the gaming industry to develop a code of conduct. This would cover expectations for how developers and publishers handle game termination. It will also “work with consumer organizations and authorities to raise awareness of applicable rights that protect consumers”, with a report on this expected before the end of 2026.
The Stop Killing Games movement began in 2024, when Ubisoft shut down the online driving game’s servers. The crewand even went so far as to have the title removed from players’ libraries. This shift has sparked discussions about players’ rights to access games they have purchased or licensed, as well as more philosophical debates about ownership and preservation in an increasingly digital entertainment landscape.
In the United States, California has seen progress with a state law regarding industry standards for how to communicate end-of-game support to players. Even without a broader legal requirement, some gaming platforms like Steam have adopted language making it more clear that players are purchasing a license for the game.
