Petition: Require videogame publishers to keep games they have sold in a working state
petition.parliament.uk
Require publishers to leave videogames (and related game assets / features) they have sold to customers in a reasonably working state when support ends, so that no further intervention whatsoever is necessary for the game to function, as a statutory consumer right.

For those wondering, this is an official government petition with two signature tresholds:

  • 10,000 signatures: government will respond to this petition
  • 100,000 signatures: this petition will be considered for debate in Parliament

Deadline: 16 October 2024

Here’s the Stop Killing Games campaign site for those unaware or not from UK.

  • @SemjazaEnglish
    5•7 months ago

    “Destroyed”? Could we perhaps use more specific language?

    Does this petition mean shut down, or a loss of bug fixing and anti-hacker support, or something else?

    • @[email protected]OPEnglish
      6•7 months ago

      From FAQ on the Stop Killing Games page.

      Q: How are publishers ‘destroying’ videogames?

      A: An increasing number of videogames are designed to rely on a server the publisher controls in order for the game to function. This acts as a lifeline to the game. When the publisher decides to turn this off, it is essentially cutting off life support to the game, making it completely inoperable to all customers. Companies that do this often intentionally prevent people from ‘repairing’ the game also by withholding vital components. When this happens, the game is ‘destroyed’, as no one can ever operate it again.