And in just a few hours, the European Gaming Industry Lobby responded to it.
Video Games Europe is a group that speaks for the video game industry in Europe.
It also explains why it’s hard to add an offline mode or keep an online game running after official support ends.
It’s important to know that Video Games Europe (VGE) is not part of the European Union, like the European Commission or Parliament.
And the EULA of all online games cover the fact that one day they will no longer work.
The Stop Killing Games campaign surpassed one million supporters yesterday. And it was answered by the European Gaming Industry Lobby within a few hours. Let’s now examine their remarks.
The European video game industry is represented by the organization Video Games Europe. It works on issues like game regulations, player safety, game culture support, and industry expansion. It is headquartered in Brussels and was founded in 1998. Trade associations from roughly 15 nations are part of the group, along with major video game companies such as Activision Blizzard, Riot, Microsoft, Nintendo, Ubisoft, and EA.
The complete statement from VGE about future game preservation can be found here.
“While we value the enthusiasm of our community, companies must consider the decision to stop offering online services when it is no longer profitable. This is a complex and serious decision. We recognize that players may find it disappointing, but the industry makes sure that, in accordance with regional consumer protection laws, players are fairly informed of any potential changes.
Since the safeguards we put in place to protect player data, remove illegal content, and combat unsafe community content would not be in place and would expose rights holders to liability, private servers are not always a good alternative for players. Additionally, a lot of games are made exclusively for the internet; therefore, these proposals would limit the options available to developers by making the production of these video games unaffordable. “.”.
A 5-page PDF was shared by VGE. Don’t forget to check it out. To put it succinctly, it largely restates what you may already know. Additionally, it explains why it is challenging to maintain an online game after official support has ended or to add an offline mode.
It is crucial to understand that, unlike the European Commission or Parliament, Video Games Europe (VGE) is not a member of the EU. VGE does not work for players or the government; rather, it works for video game companies. It is therefore not surprising that they responded in that manner. Representatives from major corporations such as Warner Bros., EA, Activision, and Nintendo are on their board. They will therefore always make an effort to safeguard what is best for their businesses. They are primarily concerned with business, not players, to put it simply. These are the same businesses, after all, that helped spark the Stop Killing Games movement.
This is a nothing-burger, to put it simply. This statement is neither positive nor negative. Furthermore, it doesn’t take away from Stop Killing Games’ goal. Therefore, it will be intriguing to observe how the European Union reacts to this.
Customers are currently limited to using their wallets to cast their ballots. You should just refrain from purchasing games that are exclusively available online if you dislike these online practices. Even though it may sound harsh, you now have to abide by the EULA when you purchase a game. Furthermore, all online games’ EULAs address the possibility that they will eventually stop functioning. Therefore, your right to complain is terminated once you accept the EULA.
Some people, I know, prefer to play games that are only available online. But there isn’t much you can do at the moment. The way you spend your money is the only practical way to change anything. You ought to start deciding how and where to spend it. It may sound absurd, but that is the reality in 2025.
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