Ubisoft Shareholders Call for Action in Response to the Growing Stop Killing Games Movement

Ubisoft has faced strong backlash from its own shareholders regarding the Stop Killing Games movement. This initiative began last April, led by YouTuber Ross Scott, urging gamers worldwide to take action against the trend of purchased games being made unplayable due to publisher decisions.

The movement gained momentum after Ubisoft shut down the servers for The Crew in March, rendering both its multiplayer and single-player modes inaccessible. Soon after, Ubisoft started pulling customers’ licenses, preventing access altogether and taking away hopes of private server play.

In response to the rising concerns, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot remarked that the company operates in a competitive market and strives to provide ongoing support for its games. He mentioned that Ubisoft always warns players about online requirements and potential service changes in the fine print of their games.

“This isn’t just an issue for Ubisoft,” Guillemot added. “Every game publisher faces similar challenges. Services may eventually be discontinued; nothing lasts forever.” He pointed out that as technology evolves, older games may need to be replaced with new versions.

However, the Stop Killing Games movement does not simply ask for permanent access to every game. Instead, they advocate for clear plans for when support ends, allowing games to remain playable without ongoing publisher assistance. There are examples of responsible support termination, such as with Gran Turismo Sport and Knockout City, where games continued to function for players after the official support ended.

Currently, the movement has collected over 1 million signatures, highlighting the deep concern among gamers. Meanwhile, the UK petition supporting the initiative has exceeded 150,000 signatures, making it eligible for parliamentary debate, despite the government indicating no plans to change existing consumer laws regarding disabled video games.

As gaming continues to grow, debates around game preservation and consumer rights are becoming increasingly relevant. Industry experts argue that publishers must evolve with these expectations, balancing their economic realities with the needs and desires of their player base.

For more details on these developments, check out sources like GamesRadar+ and the Stop Killing Games FAQ.

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