The Stop Killing Games movement has reached a critical milestone in its push for EU legislation to prevent game publishers from abruptly ending support for titles, but the path forward remains fraught with obstacles.
After collecting enough verified signatures to trigger an EU citizen’s initiative, the campaign now has a confirmed date to present its case directly to the European Commission. While this is a major step, the movement’s spokesperson revealed that its influence is already being felt—though not always in the way activists hoped.
Early in the process, the EU had considered adding gaming protections to the Digital Fairness Act, a proposed framework for digital consumer rights. However, industry lobbyists successfully argued that indefinite game support would stifle smaller developers, leading lawmakers to dismiss the idea. Stop Killing Games countered by clarifying that its goal is not to force publishers to maintain games forever, but to ensure players retain access to their purchases once official support ends.
Despite this, the Commission appears reluctant to include gaming-specific rules in the Digital Fairness Act, instead leaning toward a voluntary, industry-led approach. A leaked draft from July 2025 suggested the EU might encourage self-regulation, but the document was never finalized, leaving the movement to question whether meaningful change is possible through current channels.
There is, however, a silver lining. Stop Killing Games has gained unexpected traction within the EU Parliament, where it claims majority support. This could allow lawmakers to bypass the Commission and introduce new legislation independently—even if the citizen’s initiative fails.
To strengthen its efforts, the movement is launching two new non-governmental organizations: one based in the EU and another in the U.S. These groups will focus on counter-lobbying, public awareness, and legal research to push for clearer consumer protections. Even if legislative efforts stall, the campaign believes existing EU consumer laws could still be enforced—though current interpretations vary by country, leaving gamers without consistent recourse.
For now, the movement faces an uphill battle. While progress has been made, the gaming industry’s influence and the EU’s preference for self-regulation could delay—or even derail—meaningful reforms.
