EU Commission Declines Mandatory Game Preservation Law Despite 1.3 Million Signatures
The European Commission has rejected a proposal to mandate video game publishers keep discontinued games playable, despite the 'Stop Killing Games' initiative gathering nearly 1.3 million verified signatures. The Commission stated such a legal obligation would be 'disproportionate,' citing concerns over intellectual property rights, business costs, and potential security risks. Instead, it plans to develop a voluntary industry code to address end-of-life transparency and game preservation. The 'Stop Killing Games' initiative has indicated it will continue its campaign, aiming to have its proposals integrated into the Digital Fairness Act through the European Parliament.
The European Commission has decided against proposing a law that would require video game publishers to maintain the playability of discontinued games. This decision comes despite the 'Stop Killing Games' initiative successfully collecting nearly 1.3 million verified signatures in support of the measure.
In its official communication, the Commission stated that a legal obligation to keep games playable would be 'not proportionate.' It raised several concerns, including potential impacts on intellectual property rights, confidential business information, increased publisher costs, and possible cybersecurity or safety risks once games are no longer officially supported.
As an alternative, the Commission intends to develop a voluntary industry code of conduct. This code would focus on transparency regarding a game's end-of-life status, potentially through clearer storefront labeling, and fostering partnerships between publishers and cultural heritage institutions for game preservation. However, this voluntary framework would not legally compel publishers to provide offline patches, private server tools, or other methods for players to access games after official support ceases.
The Commission also noted that existing EU consumer law already provides certain safeguards. These include requirements related to transparency, contract duration, termination conditions, and the possibility of refunds if a game's shutdown conflicts with an agreement or a consumer's reasonable expectations.
Despite this setback, the 'Stop Killing Games' initiative has announced its commitment to continue pushing for legislation. In a statement released after the Commission's decision, the group acknowledged the outcome was 'not unexpected' and stated it had prepared for this result. The initiative now plans to lobby members of the European Parliament to amend its proposals into the Digital Fairness Act.
According to Slashdot, the group expressed confidence in moving forward without the Commission's direct support.
