Ubisoft's racing game The Crew went out of service on March 31st, rendering the game unplayable to everyone who purchased it since its release 10 years ago.
In response, YouTuber Ross Scott launched Stop Killing Games, “the biggest campaign in history to stop publishers from destroying games.” This initiative exists to encourage people to petition the government on this issue.
“An increasing number of video games are being sold commercially, but they are designed to be completely unplayable for anyone as soon as support ends,” says the Stop Killing Games site. “The legality of this practice has not been tested around the world, and many governments do not have clear laws regarding these practices. Our goal is to have this practice investigated and, if possible, put to rest.” ”
Next, the “Take Action Here” button prompts visitors to select their country of origin and suggests courses of action they can take to protest the forced abolition of video games.
The main focus of the campaign is to use The Crew's closure to petition France's Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Prevention (DGCCRF) to investigate the matter.
Many games, especially those with online components, are sold with terms of service that explain that players are not purchasing the game, but rather a license to play the game for as long as the game exists. In theory, these terms and conditions provide compensation in the event that a manufacturer turns off their servers and your paid product becomes unplayable. However, these terms and conditions have rarely been challenged in court or reviewed by national regulatory authorities. That is what these petitions are designed to address.
Scott, best known for his YouTube channel Accursed Farms, has spoken about leading the legal response since The Crew's closure was announced. In a new video announcing the Stop Killing Games initiative, he urges a broader regulatory discussion about the practice of games being intentionally broken by manufacturers or removed from people who purchase them. I have explained that this is my wish.
