Stop Killing Games movement seeks legislative action for video game preservation

Ross Scott, founder of the Stop Killing Games movement, is set to discuss video game preservation and legislative efforts in a live conversation with Ars Technica. The movement was established in 2024 following Ubisoft’s decision to shut down servers for the racing game The Crew, which rendered the software unplayable for consumers.

The campaign seeks to secure legal guarantees that players maintain access to purchased games, either through continued server support or by allowing players to host their own servers. The initiative has gained significant traction, gathering millions of signatures on government petitions and prompting responses from the European Commission and parliamentary debates. In the United States, related legislation is currently moving through the California legislature.

As a potential result of this pressure, reports suggest Ubisoft has deployed an update for The Crew 2 that introduces a hybrid mode, allowing for offline functionality. This move is viewed by some as a response to the growing political and consumer pressure regarding digital ownership and the long-term viability of software.