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Tech
Jun 25, 2026
Analyzed by GPT OSS 120B

Activists Push for Legal Safeguards to Keep Online Games Alive

AI Summary
A coalition of gamers and consumer‑rights groups, led by the NGO Stop Killing Games, is lobbying governments in Europe and the US to outlaw the abrupt shutdown of online‑only video games. Recent legal actions and petitions have forced the European Commission and California lawmakers to consider new consumer‑protection rules.

The Growing Fight to Preserve Online Multiplayer Games

When publishers like BioWare, Electronic Arts and Activision Blizzard pull the plug on servers for titles such as Anthem, The Sims Mobile and Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile, players lose access to games they paid for. In response, the activist network Stop Killing Games has launched a coordinated campaign to secure legal guarantees that online games remain playable after commercial support ends.

Activist Group’s Campaigns and Legal Tactics

Founded in 2024 by YouTuber Ross Scott after Ubisoft announced the shutdown of The Crew, Stop Killing Games has pursued multiple avenues:

  • European Citizens’ Initiative petition demanding EU‑wide consumer protection.
  • Joint lawsuit with a French consumer group over Ubisoft’s handling of The Crew.
  • Successful petition that led to a debate in the UK Parliament.
  • Direct meetings with European Commissioners and Video Games Europe on 3 June 2026.
  • Letter signed by 45 European Parliament members urging action from the European Commission.

Scale of Server Shutdowns in Early 2026

According to the article, the first half of 2026 saw dozens of online titles go offline, including:

  • Anthem – servers closed January 2026
  • The Sims Mobile – discontinued January 2026
  • Highguard – servers shuttered March 2026
  • Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile – taken offline April 2026

These closures illustrate a broader industry trend of ending support for live‑service games without providing alternatives for owners.

Policy Ripples Across Europe and the United States

The European Commission replied that existing copyright law prevents a mandatory “keep‑games‑playable” rule, but it will work with publishers on a voluntary “code of conduct” for end‑of‑life management. In the United States, the group helped pass the Protect Our Games Act in the California Assembly in June 2026, which now moves to the state Senate. The bill would require advance notice before a game is taken offline and obligate publishers to offer a way for owners to continue playing, applying to purchased games released after January 2027.

Outlook: Toward Formalized Game‑Preservation Legislation

Stop Killing Games expects the European “Digital Fairness Act” slated for debate this summer to incorporate its proposals, and its leaders are optimistic about the California bill’s chances in the Senate. If successful, these measures could set a precedent for other states and regions, prompting a wave of consumer‑protection laws that treat online‑only games as durable digital goods rather than disposable services.