Overview
- Parliament held a Westminster Hall debate after nearly 190,000 people backed the Stop Killing Games petition on server-dependent titles.
- The government reiterated there are no plans to amend consumer law, stating “the law works” under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and the 2024 DMCC Act.
- Officials said they are considering asking the Chartered Trading Standards Institute to issue guidance to ensure buyers are clearly told about longevity and functionality.
- MPs cited Sony’s rapid shutdown of Concord and subsequent refunds, as well as Ubisoft’s The Crew, to argue for clearer notice, offline options, refunds and preservation commitments.
- Ministers warned that mandating offline patches or handing keys to fan servers poses technical, security and liability challenges, while campaigners continue to press for stronger protections in the UK and via a larger EU initiative.