Users and Creators Denounce Game Removals by Companies Like Ubisoft — Campaign Demands Legal Protections in the EU and U.S.
The international campaign Stop Killing Games, led by YouTuber Ross Scott (Accursed Farms), has surpassed 1.3 million signatures in an effort to stop what many call “digital murder.” The goal is clear: to prevent video games from disappearing forever due to unilateral decisions by companies—especially when these are titles legally purchased by players.
The initiative gained momentum after Ubisoft shut down the servers for The Crew, rendering the game completely unplayable. Even worse, the company urged users to delete the game from their consoles and PCs, citing “legal reasons.” This caused a huge backlash, as many saw it as a direct violation of consumer rights.
What Happened with The Crew?
In January 2024, Ubisoft shut down the servers for The Crew, disabling any kind of access—even solo mode. This impacted thousands of players who had legally purchased and installed the game. The controversy escalated when Ubisoft updated its Terms of Service, explicitly instructing users to remove the installed game, warning that failing to do so would breach contractual obligations.
In response to the criticism, Ubisoft stated:
“As outlined in our End User License Agreement, players acquire a license to access the content—not ownership of the software itself. We reserve the right to modify or revoke such access at any time.”
(Source: Polygon)
What Does Stop Killing Games Demand?
The campaign outlines three key demands:
- Mandatory Offline Patches: When servers are shut down, companies must provide patches allowing players to use the software locally.
- Legal Reforms in the EU and U.S.: The initiative advocates for games to be treated as durable goods, like digital music or movies—not as temporary licenses.
- Penalties for Misleading Advertising: It should be illegal to market a product as “yours forever” if its availability depends entirely on servers with planned shutdown dates.
Similar Cases
The Crew is not an isolated case. The campaign has documented more than 15 games that have been completely removed or rendered unplayable, including:
- Battleborn (2K Games) – Shut down in 2021, all game modes disabled.
- Babylon’s Fall (Square Enix) – Shut down in 2023, just one year after release.
Additionally, games like Gran Turismo 7 (Sony) and Diablo IV (Blizzard) have been criticized for requiring online access—even in single-player modes—posing a similar risk should their servers go offline.
What Can the Community Do?
- Sign the petition at stopkillinggames.com (especially if you are an EU citizen).
- Report similar cases to the FTC (U.S.) or the European Commission.
- Buy physical editions that include the full game on disc or cartridge.
- Demand that media outlets and reviewers disclose when a game relies entirely on an internet connection.
- Boycott companies that include aggressive terms like Ubisoft’s in protest.
- Spread the word about these cases to your friends and communities to raise awareness.
Editorial Conclusion
It’s crucial for players to keep fighting for their rights. Campaigns like Stop Killing Games are a clear sign of how much is going wrong in the industry. Companies like Ubisoft continue to implement harmful practices, deleting purchased games and controlling the narrative to justify their actions. As a community, we cannot normalize the idea that a digital product we paid for can simply vanish because it’s no longer profitable.
This fight isn’t just about one game—it’s about the future of gaming.
