The European Commission announced today that it will not enact a regulation compelling game publishers to keep online titles running indefinitely, even after official support ends.
Under existing EU copyright law, rights holders retain exclusive control over their creations, which limits the Commission’s ability to impose a permanent server‑hosting obligation. In practice, when a studio drops support, it may shut down servers immediately, a move approved by the legal framework.
Consumer protection rules offer limited recourse: game sellers must disclose the expected period of support at purchase, and buyers may request a refund if a title is discontinued sooner than promised. However, no provision guarantees perpetual availability for the community.
To address the growing concern, the Commission will convene developers, publishers, and consumer organisations to draft a cooperative guideline for end‑of‑life game management. Parallel education efforts will inform players about rights and refund procedures when a game is abandoned prematurely.
Stop Killing Games’ Regional Action Plan
The movement’s spokesperson confirmed that the Commission’s decision was anticipated and does not halt their work. A coordinated approach will be pursued across the United States, Europe, and the United Kingdom.
United States
The U.S. legal and policy team will intensify efforts to pass the POG (Protect Our Games) Act, aiming to convert it into binding legislation beyond state boundaries.
European Union
Within the EU, the strategy involves submitting an internal report to the European Parliament to sustain political momentum. SKG will adapt the core elements of the U.S. POG Act to fit the EU’s legal context and collaborate with the European People’s Party and the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats to target existing legislative proposals.
United Kingdom
In Britain, the organisation is forming “Stop Killing the Internet,” partnering with civil liberties groups such as the Open Rights Group, Big Brother Watch, Index on Censorship, Progressive Victory, and The Pirate Party to broaden advocacy efforts.
SKG emphasises that its objective is not to force indefinite server maintenance or release proprietary code, but simply that games remain playable until a clear end‑of‑life transition is announced.
While the Commission’s policy will not create a mandatory digital preservation regime, the combined actions across jurisdictional lines may still shape future consumer protection and public policy around legacy games.
"