EU delivers verdict on Stop Killing Games initiative

The European Union has answered the Stop Killing Games movement following a successful petition campaign earlier in the year.

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The European Commission today recognized the Stop Killing Games initiative and delivered a formal response to the group's worries. STG (also called Stop Destroying Games) gained traction after Ubisoft pulled online-only game The Crew offline, cutting off access to anyone who bought the game. The movement argues that developers should be made to keep these products, which consumers have paid for, available for play in an offline state.

In its response, the EU says that it will not introduce any new laws to force publishers to keep their games playable even when delisted from storefronts.

"The Commission considers that at this stage it cannot propose a legal obligation to keep video games playable after they stop being provided commercially.

"This is due, also, to existing intellectual property rights. Under EU copyright law, rights holders enjoy exclusive rights over their creations.

"In addition to copyright, other intellectual property rights may also be relevant as they may protect different visual and technological aspects of a video game."

Instead of legislation, the Commission plans to work closely with top video game publishers to establish ethical guardrails around live service games to ensure a controversial The Crew situation doesn't happen again.

However, to address players' concerns, the EC has committed to taking several steps.

"The Commission will initiate an exchange with the video game industry and consumer representatives with the aim to draw up an industry code of conduct on managing video games' 'end of life'."

The organizers of the Stop Killing Games movement have responded to the EU's answer and plan to take things directly to parliament:

"This decision is not unexpected. But we were prepared. Hence, we're pushing forward with European Parliament amending Stop Killing Games to the Digital Fairness Act."