The UK government has formally responded to a petition from the Stop Killing Games campaign, delivering news that is likely to disappoint campaigners. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has clarified that while videogame companies must adhere to current consumer laws, there exists no legal compulsion requiring them to provide support for older versions of their software.
The Stop Killing Games initiative emerged earlier this year, triggered by Ubisoft’s decision to terminate online support for The Crew, a racing game that has been around for a decade. This move effectively rendered the game unplayable due to its reliance on online connectivity. Ross Scott, the campaign’s founder, has been pushing for legislation that would force game developers to ensure their games remain functional even after online support is discontinued, ideally by eliminating any dependence on online connectivity.
According to the rules of the UK Government and Parliament Petition website, any petition that gathers at least 10,000 signatures is entitled to a response from the government. The Stop Killing Games petition has far surpassed this requirement, attracting over 23,000 signatures. However, the government’s response may not meet the expectations of those who signed it.
The DCMS stated, “Consumers should be aware that there is no requirement in UK law compelling software companies and providers to support older versions of their operating systems, software or connected products.” The department also pointed out that companies may sometimes need to make commercial decisions, such as discontinuing support for older game servers due to high maintenance costs and a dwindling user base.
Current UK consumer law mandates that relevant information provided to consumers must be “clear and correct,” and prohibits misleading, hiding, or presenting information in an “unclear, unintelligible, ambiguous or untimely manner.” Consequently, if consumers are led to believe that a game will remain playable indefinitely on certain systems, despite the cessation of physical support, the Consumer Protection Regulations might require that the game remains technically feasible for offline play under those circumstances.
Consumers can report breaches of these regulations to appropriate helplines and may be entitled to repairs, replacements, or partial refunds if digital games fail to meet legal standards. However, the government response emphasised that the passage of time alone does not constitute a quality control issue.
“Consumers should also be aware that while there is a statutory right for goods (including intangible digital content) to be of satisfactory quality, this will only be breached if they are not of the standard which a reasonable person would consider satisfactory, taking into account circumstances including the price and any description given,” the statement read. An analogy was drawn with mobile phone support, which typically ends with the release of new models, although the device remains usable without security updates, and app developers may eventually withdraw support.
This analogy, while not perfect, hints at the government’s stance. In a video response using The Crew as a case study, Scott argued that the game’s reliance on servers for basic functionality isn’t adequately communicated to consumers, as it’s “buried in the fine print” of the End User Licence Agreement (EULA) and merely states on the box that it “requires internet.”
“Anything less than saying exactly when the game will cease functioning isn’t enough,” Scott asserted. “The majority of customers won’t notice it otherwise.” He also acknowledged the subjective nature of what constitutes “clear and correct” information, admitting that “the government could just say, ‘Nah, this is plenty. The customer is informed.’”
The petition remains active until 16 October, and if it secures 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for parliamentary debate. Similar efforts are underway internationally, including a petition in Canada which has garnered 5,400 signatures and the backing of MP Elizabeth May, a prerequisite for an official government response. A representative from Stop Killing Games said that the group is consulting with a lawyer about potential next steps. Attempts to contact Scott for further comments on the UK government’s response are ongoing, and updates will be provided if available.
As the debate over digital consumer rights continues to unfold, it remains to be seen whether the momentum generated by Stop Killing Games will influence legislative changes or spark broader industry shifts. For now, the campaign’s battle for the preservation of older video games faces a challenging road ahead.
