European Commission Rejects Proposal to Keep Old Games Playable

The European Commission has rejected a proposal to amend legislation aimed at keeping old games playable after the end of their commercial cycle. The initiative, known as Stop Destroying Videogames, was presented by the Stop Killing Games movement. The goal was to ensure that game developers provide a way to play games after the end of their commercial cycle, especially for multiplayer and live-service games that rely on servers to function. However, the Commission considered that copyright holders enjoy exclusive rights over their creations and therefore cannot propose a legal obligation to keep games playable after they stop being commercially provided. Although the Commission rejected the main proposal of the initiative, it agreed to inform consumers about the duration and conditions of contract restrictions before purchasing a game. Additionally, the Commission intends to discuss with game industry representatives and consumers to develop a code of conduct for managing the 'end-of-life' of games. The founder of Stop Killing Games, Ross Scott, stated that the decision was expected and that the Commission will push the issue to the courts. The game industry crisis is real, with over 50 games closed only in 2026, and Stop Killing Games aims to save old games from being forgotten.