EU “Stop Destroying Videogames” initiative reaches Commission stage, Stop Killing Games shares strategy
A new update from Ross Scott, the leading public face of the Stop Killing Games campaign, reveals that the program shifting from signature collection toward policy work, as the related European Citizens’ Initiative “Stop Destroying Videogames” moves through the EU’s formal review steps. In his latest 2026 video, Scott said the group is now focused on regulator engagement and legislative maneuvering rather than constant public-facing updates.
The EU timeline is now clearer than it was during the signature drive. The European Commission lists the initiative as submitted for examination on January 26, 2026, with a Commission reply due by July 27, 2026. The process also includes a meeting with Commission representatives and a public hearing in the European Parliament.
Scott’s claims an earlier discussion around whether to address game shutdowns inside the Digital Fairness Act ran into familiar industry arguments, including claims that consumer protections would force “endless support.” His response is that the ask is not indefinite operation by publishers, but an end-of-life path that keeps paid games playable after official support ends.
Source: European Citizens’ Initiative
One reason the campaign expects resistance is the broader lobbying environment. Video Games Europe has publicly argued that discontinuing online services must remain an option, framing shutdown decisions as complex and sometimes necessary.
Reporting says two NGOs are being established, one EU-based and one US-based, aimed at sustained counter-lobbying, watchdog work, and keeping the issue active even if one legislative path stalls. Scott also points to enforcement of existing EU consumer law as a fallback path, though that approach can become country-by-country and case-by-case.
Source via TechPowerUP