Stop Killing Games Movement Expands to UK With New NGO Gamers' Voice
- Sagar Mankar
- May 4
- 3 min read
The Stop Killing Games movement has expanded its advocacy efforts in the United Kingdom with the launch of "Gamers' Voice," a newly formed non-governmental organisation dedicated to representing players' rights.
For those who may not be familiar with NGOs, they are independent organisations that operate outside of government structures to pursue specific goals. Think of groups like Oxfam or Amnesty International. Gamers' Voice follows that same model, but with a focused lens on the gaming industry.
The organisation will tackle issues like digital ownership, the shutdown of purchased games, monetisation practices, online safety regulations, and fair treatment of players overall.
This is the third NGO to emerge from the Stop Killing Games movement, following the establishment of similar bodies in the EU and the US earlier this year. The UK branch is set to push its agenda in Westminster, engage with regulators, and contribute to the broader public conversation around gaming rights.
Tom Shannon, spokesperson for Gamers' Voice, was clear about the motivation behind the launch. "Gaming is one of the UK's most popular cultural activities, yet there is no dedicated voice speaking for players and creators. We are seeking to change that," he said. Shannon also highlighted how often these conversations tend to leave players out entirely, adding that "too often, conversations about gaming happen without input from the people who enjoy playing games." He pointed to concerns around digital ownership, monetisation, and online safety proposals that could require adults to show ID to access games or limit younger players' ability to stream gameplay and socialise online.
The organisation has already begun building political bridges. Tom Gordon, Member of Parliament for Harrogate and Knaresborough, offered a warm reception to the launch. "Gaming is a hugely important part of how people relax, socialise and connect. Gamers' Voice is doing valuable work to ensure that players are properly represented and that their voices are heard in decisions that affect them," he said.
To understand how the movement reached this point, a bit of backstory helps. Ross Scott, the YouTuber who founded Stop Killing Games, launched the campaign back in 2024 after Ubisoft shut down The Crew, a game that players had paid for and could no longer access once its servers went offline. That single incident sparked something much larger. The campaign went on to collect 1.3 million verified signatures on its European petition, which was enough to mandate formal consideration by the European Union. A parallel UK petition closed with 189,888 signatures, comfortably exceeding the 100,000 threshold required for Parliament to consider a debate.
That debate did take place in November 2025, though the result was mixed. UK Parliament acknowledged that digital ownership deserved respect, but the government stopped short of making any legal changes to the existing framework.
On the EU side, the European Parliament has until July 2026 to officially respond to the petition. A first public hearing was also held last month, where campaign organisers introduced the movement's purpose to Members of the European Parliament.
Ross Scott himself welcomed the UK development. "While much of the SKG movement has been focused in the EU, the issue of game destruction is global, so the more governments that can achieve basic protections for customers and the medium, the better. We absolutely appreciate Gamers' Voice pushing the issue forward in the UK," he said.
The movement is also making strides in the United States. Last month, Stop Killing Games officially threw its support behind a California bill known as AB 1921, or the Protect Our Games Act. The bill pushes publishers to be transparent about long-term support plans and what players can expect when a game's servers are eventually shut down. The bill has gone through a significant review process and is expected to be debated in the near future.
