“It is frustrating to see policymakers suddenly claim everything is ‘for our safety’” - Stop Killing Games joins pushback against age verification laws
Stop Killing Games, the organization advocating for video game consumer rights, has joined opposition to proposed age verification laws. The group, which recently addressed the EU Parliament on consumer protection issues, argues that age verification requirements are fundamentally flawed and pose significant risks to gaming platforms and preservation.
According to founder Ross Scott, age verification laws fail to address the root causes of online harm while creating prohibitively complex implementation challenges. Of particular concern is the impact on game preservation—when publishers cease support for older games, age verification systems can make it impossible to maintain or distribute these titles.
The consequences are already visible. The laws have threatened to make Linux distributions illegal in California, and have directly caused the removal of the game Urban Dead from digital stores. These outcomes demonstrate how age verification mandates can inadvertently harm legitimate gaming infrastructure and historical preservation efforts.
Stop Killing Games’ position reflects broader industry concerns about regulatory overreach. While the organization acknowledges the regulation extends beyond their primary focus, they recognize the threat age verification poses to consumer access and gaming history. The group’s opposition highlights a critical tension: policymakers implement such requirements claiming they protect safety, yet the mechanisms often create unintended consequences that harm consumers and limit access to games.