European Parliament Hears Call to Save Server-Dependent Games
In a surprising turn of events, the fight to save server-dependent video games has taken a significant leap forward. After two years of relentless campaigning, the founders of the Stop Killing Games initiative, Ross Scott and Moritz Katzner, recently presented their case to the European Parliament, and the response was overwhelmingly positive.
The atmosphere during the parliamentary session was a mix of seriousness and engagement, typical of such gatherings. Consultant Daniel Ondruška, representing the movement, emphasized that they aren’t asking for unrealistic demands. Instead, they are advocating for regulations that would prevent the shutdown of games once they become less profitable. He pointed out, “Games made 20 years ago still work, while many newer titles are discontinued; it’s all about design and business choices.”
Scott elaborated on how game shutdowns take place and highlighted that planning for the end-of-life phase of games in their development budget has minimal financial impact. He criticized common misconceptions surrounding the costs associated with keeping games online, asserting that many estimates by game developers often include unnecessary features from offline gameplay.
By the session’s conclusion, Anna Cavazzini, a Member of the European Parliament and chair of the relevant committee, expressed gratitude to Scott and Katzner for their hard work, mentioning the widespread support from various political factions for their cause. Another MEP, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the positive reception from his colleagues.
After the hearing, Katzner shared his excitement during a live press conference on Twitch, describing the experience as “absolutely incredible.” He noted that all MEPs present showed a supportive attitude, which he felt was quite promising for the future of their initiative.
Katzner remarked that this hearing marked just the beginning of their journey into the legislative world. Although the committee is still deliberating on their proposal, he celebrated the unanimous support expressed by the MEPs, calling it a “mission accomplished” moment. Scott agreed, stating that even with a bit of extra preparation, the outcome would have likely remained the same.
As discussions continued among the attendees, the overall vibe was optimistic. Katzner captured the sentiment perfectly with a meme, stating, “There’s a long road ahead, but the momentum is real.” This presentation at the EU committee has set a strong foundation for Stop Killing Games, which is also launching NGOs in the EU and US to address the issue of game shutdowns and has taken a stand in a lawsuit against Ubisoft regarding the closure of The Crew.
The movement is gaining traction, and the future looks bright for gamers who want their favorite server-dependent titles to survive in this ever-evolving industry.