Stop Killing Games EU Hearing: Start Times and Livestream Links
- Sagar Mankar
- 59 minutes ago
- 3 min read
The European Parliament is set to host a "public hearing" on April 16, 2026, focused on the Stop Killing Games (SKG) campaign, which pushes for laws preventing publishers from making purchased games unplayable.
The hearing is titled "Stop Destroying Videogames" and will be held in the SPAAK building in Brussels, Belgium.
It is co-hosted by the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO), the Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI), and the Committee on Petitions (PETI), along with the European Pirate Party.
How It All Started
The Stop Killing Games initiative was launched in 2024 by YouTuber Ross Scott of Accursed Farms. The campaign targets a frustrating and increasingly common practice in the games industry: publishers shutting down online servers for live-service games without giving players any offline alternative or preservation option.
One of the most talked-about examples is Ubisoft's The Crew, which was delisted and rendered completely unplayable in 2024 despite players having legally purchased it.
The core demand of the campaign is straightforward. Publishers selling or licensing video games in the EU should be required to ensure those games remain functional even after official support ends. The initiative touches on broader issues too, including digital ownership, intellectual property rights, and the cultural value of preserving games for future generations.
The campaign has already gathered over 1.29 million verified EU signatures, which is well above the threshold required for official parliamentary scrutiny. The ECI was officially submitted in January 2026, and the European Commission is now giving its formal response.
EU Public Hearing: Date, Times, and How to Watch
The public hearing is scheduled from 09:00 to 10:30 UTC, which translates to the following times:
San Francisco (PDT): 2:00 AM to 3:30 AM
New York (EDT): 5:00 AM to 6:30 AM
São Paulo (BRT): 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM
London, UK (BST): 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Paris (CEST): 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Athens (EEST): 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM
New Delhi, India (IST): 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM
Hong Kong (HKT): 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM
Tokyo, Japan (JST): 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Sydney, Australia (AEST): 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM
The hearing is open to the public (in the SPAAK building, Room 03C050) and will be livestreamed via the official European Parliament webstream.
Ross Scott will be speaking at the session, which will feature talks on the ECI's demands, expert insights on game preservation, and questions from MEPs aimed at the Commission.
SKG Press Conference Later That Day
Later the same day, a separate SKG Press Conference will take place in the same SPAAK building, running from 15:00 to 18:00 UTC. It will be moderated by Ross Scott, Moritz K., and Paul D.
The press conference is described as more community-focused and will cover the campaign's progress, insights from legal experts, and statements from MEPs who support the initiative. It will also address potential next steps, including how the campaign could influence the upcoming "Protect Our Games bill" in California, USA.
Here are the press conference timings:
San Francisco (PDT): 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM
New York (EDT): 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM
São Paulo (BRT): 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM
London (BST): 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Paris (CEST): 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Athens (EEST): 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
New Delhi (IST): 8:30 PM to 11:30 PM
Hong Kong (HKT): 11:00 PM to 2:00 AM (April 17)
Tokyo (JST): 12:00 AM to 3:00 AM (April 17)
Sydney (AEST): 2:00 AM to 5:00 AM (April 17)
The press conference will be livestreamed on Twitch at the official Stop Killing Games channel.
Media members, streamers, YouTubers, and press interested in attending or helping host the press conference can get in touch at contact@stopkillinggames.com.
The events are sponsored by Alderon Games and enjoy cross-party parliamentary support. Whether you care about digital consumer rights, gaming history, or just want to actually keep the games you buy, April 16 is worth paying attention to.