European Commission aims to facilitate code of conduct for managing “end of life” for games following Stop Killing Games petition
The European Commission has responded to the Stop Killing Games petition, a campaign advocating for the preservation of games after their commercial discontinuation. While acknowledging player concerns, the Commission stated it cannot propose legal obligations requiring publishers to keep games playable indefinitely, citing existing intellectual property rights that grant creators exclusive control over their works.
Instead of imposing mandatory measures, the Commission indicated it would work to facilitate the development of an industry-wide code of conduct for managing “end of life” scenarios for games. The organization emphasized that EU consumer law already contains “important safeguards” that provide player protections. The Commission expressed hope that the gaming industry would collaborate with player communities to establish better standards for sunsetting games, enabling communities to continue accessing and playing titles even after official support ends.
This response represents a middle-ground approach that prioritizes voluntary industry cooperation over regulatory enforcement, reflecting the balance between protecting players’ interests and respecting intellectual property rights in the digital gaming landscape.