The organizers behind the Stop Killing Games campaign are not resting on their laurels while they await a pivotal meeting with European Union politicians. The group, which has galvanized nearly 1.3 million verified signatures on a petition, is now taking a significant structural step forward. To ensure their fight against the permanent loss of online-only games has lasting power, they have announced the formation of two dedicated non-governmental organizations (NGOs) focused on Europe and the United States.
This move represents a strategic evolution from a petition-driven campaign to an established advocacy force. The core issue remains the ability of publishers to shut down servers for online-dependent titles, effectively rendering purchased games unplayable and erasing digital cultural artifacts. The campaign argues that consumers should have a legal right to continued access or the means to preserve these games independently.
The upcoming EU discussion, secured by the petition’s overwhelming support, is a crucial milestone. It aims to address whether current consumer protection and digital goods laws are sufficient or if new regulations are needed to prevent what campaigners call the “killing” of games. By establishing formal NGOs, Stop Killing Games is building a framework for sustained lobbying, legal analysis, public education, and potentially supporting preservationist technical efforts for the long term.
The message is clear: this is not a fleeting protest. The creation of these NGOs signals a committed, organized effort to change industry practices and legal frameworks on both sides of the Atlantic, ensuring the fight for game preservation “is not just going away.”
