EU Gaming Initiative Achieves Milestone: Stop Killing Games Campaign Succeeds

The Stop Killing Games campaign has made significant strides in its efforts to protect online gaming. Launched in 2024, the initiative was a response to publishers like Ubisoft shutting down online-only games, limiting access for players.

Milestone Achievement of the EU Gaming Initiative

In 2025, the European Citizens’ Initiative faced criticism from major game publishers, who claimed the initiative would be “prohibitively expensive.” Nonetheless, the campaign has surpassed expectations by amassing nearly 1.3 million verified signatures, well above its initial goal of 1 million.

Key Details and Statistics

• Number of Verified Signatures: Approximately 1.3 million
• Countries with Highest Support:
  • Germany: 233,180 signatures
  • France: 145,299 signatures
  • Poland: 143,826 signatures
  • Spain: 121,616 signatures

Director General Moritz Katzner announced progress on the subreddit r/StopKillingGames, stating, “Things are moving quite fast right now.” The campaign intends to unveil a video detailing its plans, alongside updates on a new website and enhanced Discord server.

Next Steps for the Campaign

Despite early concerns, the group opted to share the final signature count ahead of schedule. Katzner confirmed that the next phase involves submitting the verified signatures to the European Commission in Brussels, likely by late February.

Campaign’s Core Objectives

The Stop Killing Games initiative doesn’t aim for ownership or monetization rights after games lose publisher support. Instead, its primary goal is to prevent the remote disabling of video games, ensuring that players can continue to access and enjoy these titles independently of the publishers.

A relevant example of this predicament is BioWare’s Anthem, which was essentially rendered unplayable when the publisher ceased support. Conversely, the Avengers video game remains accessible despite no longer being sold, thanks to its peer-to-peer online system.

As the campaign continues to gain traction, further updates are expected soon, maintaining the momentum of this important initiative in the gaming community.