The Stop Killing Games initiative has recently experienced a notable surge in activity, especially with the backing of Nicolae Ștefănuță, Vice President of the European Parliament. Ștefănuță has publicly shown his endorsement of the initiative by signing its petition, which has now exceeded 1.35 million signatures, surpassing its original goal of 1 million. This initiative confronts the trend of video game publishers ceasing support for games, raising worries for consumers as titles become outdated when removed from sale or unsupported, exemplified by Ubisoft’s withdrawal of “The Crew.”

Ștefănuță conveyed his support on Instagram, asserting that once a video game is purchased, it is the property of the consumer. The campaign’s official Bluesky account further emphasized his endorsement. Despite the campaign’s viral triumph, Video Games Europe, a representative body for significant industry figures like Ubisoft and Microsoft, released a statement acknowledging the community’s fervor while defending the need to halt online services when they are no longer sustainable.

With the EU petition surpassing 1 million signatures, it is now qualified for submission to the EU for verification, which may lead to a public hearing or discussion in the European Parliament. In addition, the UK petition has also gained momentum, surpassing 150,000 signatures, which requires consideration for a parliamentary discussion. However, the UK government had previously indicated it had no intentions to revise consumer laws regarding video games. The campaign continues to pursue further support to ensure its issues are recognized by governmental institutions.