CAMPAIGN UPDATES

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> CURRENT STATUS: EU & UK VALIDATION PHASE

MILESTONE ACHIEVED: Petition Enters Validation Phase
Updated: July 2025 | Status: SIGNATURE VALIDATION ONGOING

> DUAL VICTORY: Both EU and UK petitions have exceeded their required thresholds in July 2025. The EU petition reached 1.25M signatures while the UK petition surpassed 100,000, triggering parliamentary consideration in both jurisdictions.

1.25M+
EU Signatures
100K+
UK Parliamentary Threshold
NEXT
Commission Response

> TIMELINE: Petition launched April 2024, reached thresholds July 2025
> EU STATUS: Signature validation by member state authorities ongoing
> UK STATUS: Parliamentary debate scheduled following 100K threshold
> NEXT PHASE: Official submission to Commission after validation complete

THE CATALYST: Ubisoft's The Crew Shutdown
Timeline: Dec 2023 - April 2024 | Status: CAMPAIGN TRIGGER

> CATALYST EVENT: The Stop Killing Games movement was sparked by Ubisoft's handling of The Crew, demonstrating how publishers can eliminate purchased games without warning or recourse.

📅 SHUTDOWN TIMELINE

  • Dec 14, 2023: The Crew delisted from digital stores
  • Mar 31, 2024: Servers shut down permanently
  • Apr 1, 2024: Players locked out of purchased game
  • Apr 2024: Ubisoft begins revoking licenses without refunds

⚡ CAMPAIGN RESPONSE

  • Apr 2024: Ross Scott launches Stop Killing Games initiative
  • Apr-May 2024: Multiple petitions created (EU, UK, France)
  • First 2 months: 350,000+ EU signatures collected
  • Nov 2024: Class action lawsuit filed against Ubisoft

> IMPACT: The Crew shutdown became a rallying cry for digital ownership rights
> LEGAL ACTION: Two California players filed class action lawsuit in November 2024
> PUBLISHER RESPONSE: Ubisoft promised offline modes for The Crew 2 and Motorfest

2025 UPDATE: Industry Responds to Growing Movement
Updated: July 2025 | Status: FORMAL GOVERNMENT REVIEW

> VALIDATION PHASE: Both EU and UK governments are now processing petition signatures. Video Games Europe has issued formal opposition statement, signaling industry concerns about potential legislation.

🔄 VALIDATION PROCESS

  • Designated authorities in all EU countries verify signatures
  • Checking for duplicates, invalid entries, and spoofing
  • Target: 140% of required signatures for safety margin
  • Organizers confident valid signatures exceed threshold

📋 2025 DEVELOPMENTS

  • UK petition reached 100K+ triggering parliamentary debate
  • Video Games Europe issued formal opposition statement
  • Industry argues proposals would "curtail developer choice"
  • Validation deadline set for July 31, 2025

> STATUS: Signatures being validated by government authorities
> CONCERNS: Industry claims "too expensive" and security risks
> IMPACT: Both EU and UK governments formally reviewing proposals
> TIMELINE: Commission response expected after validation complete

JULY 2025: Video Games Europe Issues Formal Opposition
Updated: July 2025 | Status: INDUSTRY LOBBYING INTENSIFIES

> ESCALATED RESPONSE: Video Games Europe, representing major EU publishers, issued an official statement in July 2025 opposing the petition as it approached government review thresholds.

❌ PUBLISHER ARGUMENTS

  • "Too expensive" to provide private servers or offline modes
  • Claims it would "curtail developer choice" in design decisions
  • Legal liability concerns for cybersecurity and content moderation
  • Warning of "chilling effect on game design" innovation

✅ COMMUNITY RESPONSE

  • Multiple games already successfully transitioned to community servers
  • Campaign doesn't demand source code, just functional preservation
  • Examples: City of Heroes, Battlefield Heroes, APB revival projects
  • Petition explicitly allows for reasonable technical flexibility

> TIMING: Industry opposition escalated as petition neared government thresholds
> RESPONSE: 1.25M+ signatures demonstrate strong public support despite lobbying
> SIGNAL: Formal opposition suggests industry takes legislative threat seriously
> PRECEDENT: Ubisoft's Crew offline mode promise shows solutions are possible

JOIN THE MOVEMENT
Help preserve gaming history for future generations

🎯 IMMEDIATE ACTIONS

  • Share campaign information on social media
  • Contact your EU representatives about digital rights
  • Document games at risk of shutdown
  • Join preservation community discussions
  • Spread awareness about digital ownership issues

⚡ LONG-TERM SUPPORT

  • Support developers creating preservation-friendly games
  • Advocate for consumer protection in digital purchases
  • Participate in community preservation projects
  • Monitor the Commission's response and next steps
  • Vote for politicians supporting digital consumer rights