The European Commission has responded to the Stop Killing Games petition, saying that it is unable to “propose a legal obligation” to keep games playable after they are no longer available commercially.
In a post on its website, the organisation said it was unable to do this due to “existing intellectual property rights”, which means that rights holders “enjoy exclusive rights over their creations”. The European Commission added that EU consumer law already features “important safeguards” that cover the “economic interests of consumers”.
“Video game providers must inform consumers about the duration and the conditions for terminating the contract before the consumers signs up for the video game,” the EC wrote.
“The Directive on digital content and digital services provides consumers with remedies when the content or service provided does not conform with the contract and what consumers could reasonably expect. Consumers may be entitled to proportionate refund of their purchases.”
However, the European Commission has agreed to address player concerns, saying that it is going to facilitate a discussion between reps for the games industry and for consumers. The end goal here is to “draw up an industry code of conduct on managing video games’ end of life’.”
On top of that, the organisation says it will be attempting to raise awareness of consumer rights.
“This initiative shows the relevance of video games in today’s cultural field,” Henna Virkkunen, the European Commission’s EVP for tech sovereignty, security and democracy, said. “As it is the tradition in the sector, I hope the industry will listen to player communities and agree on better sunsetting standards so communities can continue to meet and play together. We will take the necessary steps so that a dialogue can take place with representatives from consumers.”
Michael McGrath, Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection added: “Video game providers must treat consumers fairly, including when they decide to discontinue a game. If they stop providing a game earlier than stipulated in the contract or earlier than consumers could reasonably expect, players should be appropriately reimbursed. EU legislation granting consumers redress rights for digital content and services, including video games, has applied since January 1, 2022. It is important that consumers actively exercise these rights. We will continue working with consumer authorities and organisations to protect gamers.”
This follows the EU version of the Stop Killing Games petition, which has been signed by 1.3 million people. The organisers announced this milestone back in January 2026.
The organisation started in 2024 after Ubisoft took the online racing game The Crew offline, ten years after its release.
