Stop Killing Games Status

The end of Stop Killing Games is a very lengthy video from Accursed Farms with the latest on the video game preservation campaign it began last year to help save video games from publisher shutdowns. It shares where things stand right now in light how difficult it's been to gain traction, especially in the face of headwinds from a more prominent dissenting voice on YouTube. Here's the latest from the Stop Killing Games Website:

"Stop Killing Games" is a consumer movement started to challenge the legality of publishers destroying video games they have sold to customers. An increasing number of video games are sold effectively as goods - with no stated expiration date - but designed to be completely unplayable as soon as support from the publisher ends. This practice is a form of planned obsolescence and is not only detrimental to customers, but makes preservation effectively impossible. Furthermore, the legality of this practice is largely untested in many countries.

Over the past year, we have succesfully escalated complaints on this problem to consumer agencies in France, Germany, and Australia, and have brought forth petitions for new law on this problem to various countries. A list of the actions taken to date can be viewed here. As of 2025, most consumer action on this matter has concluded and we are awaiting decisions on it from several governments. However, there are a few remaining avenues left where people can participate if they are eligible:
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10.
 
Re: Stop Killing Games Status
Jun 24, 2025, 20:41
10.
Re: Stop Killing Games Status Jun 24, 2025, 20:41
Jun 24, 2025, 20:41
 
Prez wrote on Jun 24, 2025, 14:35:
It's a consumer protection/consumer rights thing. The EU has spanked companies like Hewlett Packard, Lexmark, and others for doing the same thing with printer software that bricks a printer. What the companies wanted to do was irrelevant because it was found illegal in the EU. Just because big money has swallowed up the US legal system doesn't mean the rest of the world has to be stupid.

Bricking hardware is orders of magnitude worse than discontinuing an online service though.
I fully support urging, hell even forcing if need be, game developers to have a contingency plan for games that require a live connection. And I think pushing for something like that, even if not successful, is positive and makes developers and publishers aware of the demand, so that some percentage will keep that goodwill alive, if that's all it's ever going to be.
But at the same time I'm also fully supportive of software as a license, not a good.
When we get the Star Trek replicators, we can talk about licensing actual physical goods too I suppose.

That Blizzard dude's focus on monetization (or not) of abandoned games is so unnecessary.
Also his "who will pay for the servers" thing is like... I guess he's young huh?
These people really missed out on the MP FPS community pre COD4, eh?
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9.
 
Re: Stop Killing Games Status
Jun 24, 2025, 14:35
Prez
 
9.
Re: Stop Killing Games Status Jun 24, 2025, 14:35
Jun 24, 2025, 14:35
 Prez
 
It's a consumer protection/consumer rights thing. The EU has spanked companies like Hewlett Packard, Lexmark, and others for doing the same thing with printer software that bricks a printer. What the companies wanted to do was irrelevant because it was found illegal in the EU. Just because big money has swallowed up the US legal system doesn't mean the rest of the world has to be stupid.
"We live on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was not meant that we should voyage far."

"Universal compassion is the only guarantee of morality."
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8.
 
Re: Stop Killing Games Status
Jun 24, 2025, 14:23
8.
Re: Stop Killing Games Status Jun 24, 2025, 14:23
Jun 24, 2025, 14:23
 
Thanks for that reminder that he's Ex-Blizzard. Explains so much.
7.
 
Re: Stop Killing Games Status
Jun 24, 2025, 09:52
7.
Re: Stop Killing Games Status Jun 24, 2025, 09:52
Jun 24, 2025, 09:52
 
I hate to be the pessimist here but game companies will be game companies. According to SKG's longer explanation, they likely won't be able to challenge GaaS even with ones with stated expiration dates. I don't see how even if this actually gains enough traction that game companies don't just say ALL games they make going forward are non-expiring live service games just to avoid having to maintain the end of life playability costs.
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6.
 
Re: Stop Killing Games Status
Jun 24, 2025, 06:47
6.
Re: Stop Killing Games Status Jun 24, 2025, 06:47
Jun 24, 2025, 06:47
 
You can take the guy out of blizzard but you can't take the blizzard out of the guy.
“I am not a Mac user unless under duress.” - John Carmack
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5.
 
Re: Stop Killing Games Status
Jun 24, 2025, 04:14
5.
Re: Stop Killing Games Status Jun 24, 2025, 04:14
Jun 24, 2025, 04:14
 
Well it’s almost a done effort. If somehow 500K signatures found their way into the EU petition then we would have a shot. Still open until July 31.

Damn.

And F piratesoftware. Not sure what his game is but he shows as a self aggrandising little troll.
Rimmer: “Step up to Red Alert.”
Kryten: “Sir, are you absolutely sure? It does mean changing the bulb.”

ALSO: https://www.stopkillinggames.com/
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4.
 
Re: Stop Killing Games Status
Jun 24, 2025, 03:45
4.
Re: Stop Killing Games Status Jun 24, 2025, 03:45
Jun 24, 2025, 03:45
 
Nerian wrote on Jun 23, 2025, 20:11:
Man, fuck PirateSoftware...for real. That guy is just atrocious in multiple ways.

Plus if you go to his channel, it's the typical overly lengthy, love-to-hear-myself-talk, insanely stupid grotesque face thumbnails garbage. It FEELS AI-generated, because of how generic and sloppy it is.

And then this on top, what a fartwaffle of a (supposed, but unconfirmed) human...
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3.
 
Re: Stop Killing Games Status
Jun 24, 2025, 02:07
3.
Re: Stop Killing Games Status Jun 24, 2025, 02:07
Jun 24, 2025, 02:07
 
Nerian wrote on Jun 23, 2025, 20:11:
Man, fuck PirateSoftware...for real. That guy is just atrocious in multiple ways.

His take was just so dang crazy and hilarious at the same time. The only one worse was his buddy Theo Reacts weird take on the whole thing. Look up "keep killing games" on youtube for a funny take on the whole thing.
2.
 
Re: Stop Killing Games Status
Jun 23, 2025, 21:38
Prez
 
2.
Re: Stop Killing Games Status Jun 23, 2025, 21:38
Jun 23, 2025, 21:38
 Prez
 
He isn't the only reason this campaign was unsuccessful - it was a longshot at best from the beginning - but the dude is just a massive prick. His opposition was self-serving strawman nonsense that drowned out what was actually being fought for. Mad respect for Ross Scott for getting the first real challenge to corporate theft off the ground nonetheless.
"We live on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was not meant that we should voyage far."

"Universal compassion is the only guarantee of morality."
Avatar 17185
1.
 
Re: Stop Killing Games Status
Jun 23, 2025, 20:11
1.
Re: Stop Killing Games Status Jun 23, 2025, 20:11
Jun 23, 2025, 20:11
 
Man, fuck PirateSoftware...for real. That guy is just atrocious in multiple ways.
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