Overview

• The petition surpassed one million signatures on July 2, triggering a formal review by the European Commission under the EU Citizens’ Initiative process.
• Stop Killing Games demands that developers provide mandatory offline modes or fan-maintainable game versions once online services end to safeguard consumer ownership.
• Video Games Europe issued a July 5 statement opposing these requirements, arguing they would curb creative choice and increase development costs.
• The publishers’ coalition contends that private servers pose data security and legal liability risks that undermine sustainable long-term support.
• The European Commission must decide by its July 31 deadline whether to advance legislative proposals that could reshape digital game preservation in the EU.