Over the past few years, a disturbing trend has become increasingly prominent in the gaming industry. Publishers have been pulling the plug on their games, leaving them in a completely unplayable state. This issue goes beyond being a mere headache for historical preservation; it affects the communities and fans who invested time and passion into these games. Many of these titles, including live service games no longer supported, had dedicated audiences left without any way to experience a piece of their favorite hobby.
How many fans these games had may be irrelevant to publishers, but for those players, losing access is deeply frustrating. In 2025, a new consumer movement emerged to push back against this practice.
### The Birth of the Stop Killing Games Movement
The Stop Killing Games movement was founded by Ross Scott, creator of Accursed Farms. The movement’s mission, as outlined on its official website, is clear:
> “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.
Scott’s campaign began with Ubisoft’s *The Crew*, which had its servers abruptly shut down to make way for a sequel. While the shutdown itself was a source of frustration, Scott’s bigger contention was with the idea that consumers do not truly “own” the games they purchase once online support ends.
### Growing Momentum and Legal Challenges
The Stop Killing Games movement attracted many supporters who were eager to explore their legal rights across various jurisdictions. Its mission expanded into preserving all games and safeguarding their virtual worlds for future players.
The movement’s petition in Europe gained significant traction, amassing over one million signatures. This milestone was enough to prompt a formal discussion within the European Union Parliament—putting the spotlight on game preservation and consumer rights.
### The Movement’s Legacy and Ongoing Fight
In August 2025, Ross Scott officially closed the Stop Killing Games movement, citing personal burnout. However, the fight to preserve video games and challenge destructive industry practices continues.
While this particular chapter may be over, Scott’s efforts were crucial in raising awareness about the critical issue of video game preservation. For bringing this often overlooked topic to a broader audience, Ross Scott has been honored as Shacknews Person of the Year for 2025.
https://www.shacknews.com/article/147199/person-of-the-year-2025-ross-scott
