Ars Live: Ross Scott discusses the Stop Killing Games movement
The Stop Killing Games movement, founded by Ross Scott in 2024 following Ubisoft's termination of online services for The Crew, seeks legislative action to address the problem of players losing access to purchased games. The campaign is gathering millions of petition signatures demanding government intervention to either require publishers to maintain perpetual server support or allow players to operate independent servers for games they own.
The initiative has already achieved notable political traction, triggering parliamentary debates in Europe and official responses from the European Commission, whilst proposed legislation advances through California's legislature. Ars Technica will host a live conversation with Scott on August 11 to discuss how the movement developed, what drives gamer participation, and whether regulatory solutions can effectively protect long-term game access—including how recent industry decisions like Sony's discontinuation of PlayStation disc sales shape the broader debate.
In short
- Ross Scott's Stop Killing Games movement campaigns for legislation ensuring players retain access to purchased games when servers shut down
- The initiative has prompted European parliamentary debate and proposed California legislation; Ars Technica hosts a live discussion with Scott on August 11
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
When consumers purchase a game, they reasonably expect continued access to the product they have paid for, yet publishers routinely shut down servers, rendering these purchases worthless at corporate discretion. This represents a fundamental breach of consumer rights and a loss of cultural heritage as games—increasingly recognised as artistic and historical works—are permanently deleted from existence. Regulatory intervention requiring publishers either to maintain perpetual support or permit fan-operated servers protects consumer interests whilst preserving gaming culture without imposing unreasonable demands on businesses.
The case against
Mandating perpetual server support imposes unlimited future costs on publishers for products sold indefinitely in the past, creating an economically unsustainable model that could deter game development and innovation. Online infrastructure requires ongoing maintenance, security updates, and resources that become increasingly complex over decades, and compelling companies to shoulder these indefinite expenses is effectively forced labour. Consumers who purchase games accept terms of service, and market solutions—transparency, competition from games offering lasting offline access, and consumer choice—provide adequate protection without government mandates that could damage the industry's ability to create new works.
Explained simply
Stop Killing Games is a campaign about what happens when a game people have bought depends on a company’s servers to work. If those servers are switched off, players may lose access even though they paid for the game.
The movement was founded by Ross Scott in 2024 after Ubisoft ended online services for The Crew. It is seeking rules that would require publishers either to keep games running or to let owners use independent servers.
The campaign has prompted debate in Europe and proposed legislation in California. The issue raises questions about what buying a game entitles someone to, and how long publishers should support games that rely on online services.