The European Commission just handed 1.3 million signatories of the Stop Killing Games petition a polite shrug wrapped in bureaucratic language. Instead of any binding legal requirement to keep purchased games playable after servers go dark, Brussels says it will "facilitate" an industry code of conduct on end-of-life management by the end of 2026. Existing consumer laws already cover refunds and contract transparency, the Commission claims, so new mandates would clash with intellectual property rights that let rights holders retain exclusive control even after a title is commercially dead.

Henna Virkkunen, EVP for tech sovereignty, framed it as a dialogue: "I hope the industry will listen to player communities and agree on better sunsetting standards." Michael McGrath added that providers must treat consumers fairly when discontinuing a game and that players can seek proportionate refunds under the 2022 digital content directive. The petition, triggered by Ubisoft's 2024 shutdown of The Crew, now shifts to voluntary guidelines on notifications, possible offline modes, and preservation partnerships. Ubisoft reportedly attended an invitation-only meeting with officials shortly before the decision, a detail the campaign has flagged without invitation.

Ross Scott and the organizers call it expected but far from fatal. They are pivoting to amendments in the Digital Fairness Act and pushing legislative action through the European Parliament, where they claim majority support and recent inquiries. The EU version of the petition cleared the 1-million threshold with over 1.29 million verified signatures. Consumer groups like UFC-Que Choisir continue separate legal challenges over specific shutdowns. A code of conduct sounds nice on paper, but without enforcement teeth or a mandate, it risks becoming another industry self-regulation exercise that changes little for players who already bought the product.