EU rules it will not change legislature surrounding Stop Killing Games movement

The Stop Killing Games campaign has been dealt a major blow in Europe after the European Commission ruled out creating a law that would force publishers to keep discontinued games playable, instead promising only a voluntary industry code of conduct and better enforcement of existing consumer rules.

The details:

• The decision is the formal response to the European Citizens’ Initiative, which gathered over 1.29 million verified signatures and was warmly received in a European Parliament hearing earlier this year, where MEPs broadly backed stronger protections against publishers remotely killing purchased games.
• In its communication, the Commission says that “at this stage it cannot propose a legal obligation to keep video games playable after they stop being provided commercially,” arguing that EU copyright and other IP rules give rights‑holders exclusive control over their works and make such a mandate disproportionate.
• Instead of legislation, Brussels will invite publishers and consumer groups to agree an industry code of conduct on handling games’ “end of life” by the end of 2026, covering issues like advance notice of shutdowns and how player data and purchases are treated, while also stepping up efforts to remind players of their existing rights to information, refunds and other remedies under digital‑content consumer law.
• The Commission did at least confirm that game providers must clearly tell consumers, before purchase, how long a game or service will be available and under what conditions it can be terminated. However, no further enforcement of rules will be put in place.