Stop Destroying Videogames: EU Initiative Against Game Shutdowns

By Kilian Binder Gaming News
4 July 2025 no comments

A topic that is becoming increasingly relevant is the shutdown of video games. Live-action games are repeatedly shut down due to low player numbers. From the publishers’ point of view, this is of course understandable because it is no longer profitable, but for players it is always a shock. After all, they have paid for the game and suddenly can’t play it anymore.

One of the more recent examples is Anthem, the online action game by BioWare. This game was published by EA and is scheduled to be shut down in January 2026. More about it here. However, there is the European Citizens’ Initiative 045, which demands that video games should not simply be shut down. You can find out everything about it here.

What is the “Stop Destroying Videogames” Initiative?

The Stop Destroying Videogames Initiative, as already mentioned, is a European Citizens’ Initiative. Its goal is to prohibit games from being arbitrarily shut down or rendered unusable. They want to obligate publishers to keep the game functional after the end of online services.

They therefore want to create a right to unlimited use of legally purchased games. Exactly how this solution would look depends very much on the situation, but the game should at least remain playable offline. In some games, it might also make sense for players to be able to set up their own servers once the official ones are shut down. But this requires an “offline patch” before shutdown, and that is what the Stop Destroying Videogames Initiative is fighting for.

Why is the initiative important for gamers and consumers?

The trend is moving further and further away from owning real products. In most cases, like on Steam, we only purchase digital licenses that often require always-online authentication. This means if you are offline and the game can’t reach the servers, you can’t access it either. This can happen with both multiplayer and single-player games. In these cases, you are often left without any right to a refund or replacement, so your purchased product is simply taken away again.

The initiative now aims to achieve more consumer protection in the digital single market. With a legal obligation to maintain and ensure usability. Only in this way can video game history be preserved forever because we never know which title will be the next to disappear for good and thus be forgotten.

How you can support the EU initiative

This topic is as important to you as it is to us? Then you may want to support this petition too. All EU citizens with voting rights in their own country are eligible to participate. The goal is 1,000,000 signatures, and this goal has already been reached. In addition, a threshold must be reached in at least seven countries. But the more signatures, the better—so vote now.

You can sign on the official website of the European Union. In the online form, you have to enter your name, address, and date of birth and confirm your participation. Every vote counts, so support Stop Destroying Videogames now.

Kilian Binder

Hey, I’m Kilian, but online you’ll probably know me as “Tux1243.” I've been part of the team for almost two years now, always trying to keep you in the loop with the latest and coolest gaming news. I also have a huge passion for doing deep dives and detailed analyses of entire game series and franchises. I love getting to the bottom of things and exploring the little details and backstories that make game worlds so fascinating.

Stop Destroying Videogames: EU Initiative Against Game Shutdowns

6 months ago