EU won't force publishers to grant dead video games an afterlife
Users of licensed software that depends on online components may also find this development of interest – more on that later.
The European Commission has declined to implement a legal obligation requiring video game publishers to keep games playable after they are no longer commercially available, dealing a blow to the "Stop Killing Games" movement.
The short version
- The EU favors a voluntary industry code of conduct over legally binding requirements.
- The Stop Killing Games movement is now pivoting to seek protections via the Digital Fairness Act.
- The issue extends beyond gaming to any licensed software dependent on online components.
What happened
Following a petition signed by nearly 1.3 million people, the Stop Killing Games campaign pushed for laws to prevent publishers from rendering games unplayable by shutting down servers. While advocates suggested patches for standalone play or community-hosted servers, the European Commission opted against a legal mandate. Movement founder Ross Scott argues this approach creates policy fragmentation and fails to clarify how the law views the situation.
Why it matters
This decision leaves consumers at the mercy of commercial decisions that can render purchased software useless. This "software shutout" phenomenon is not limited to gaming; for instance, Microsoft Office 2019 for macOS is currently facing a similar demise due to certificate expiration. By avoiding a legal mandate, the EU leaves a gap in consumer protection for all licensed software relying on online licensing servers.
Summary by Nerd News Network. Read the full article at The Register — Networks via the links above and below.