A global movement to stop game shutdowns has reached a major milestone. The “Stop Killing Games” petition, aiming for 1 million signatures, has officially hit its goal with the help of extensive media coverage. The campaign, which began as a call to action in 2023, seeks to address the issue of accessibility and copyright concerns surrounding older games.
The movement has gathered significant traction, with individual petitions filed in multiple countries and complaints submitted to consumer agencies in Germany, France, and Australia. This surge in support demonstrates that gamers worldwide are eager for change.
Although the petition has reached its initial goal, organizers plan to secure an additional 400,000 signatures to account for potential invalid ones. A study by the Video Game History Foundation found that approximately 87% of games released before 2010 face accessibility issues with modern technology.
The success of this campaign sends a powerful message in light of recent industry reports on game shutdowns, including EA’s decision to shut down servers for 61 games over the past two years. The main issue at hand is customers paying for games that may not be accessible due to copyright and legal concerns.
On a positive note, the GOG Game Preservation Program continues to work towards saving older titles without digital rights management (DRM). This program boasts over 100 classic games without DRM, ensuring account owners can download and play previously purchased games.
Source: https://gamerant.com/stop-killing-games-petition-how-many-signed-tracker