UK Parliament to Debate "Stop Killing Games" Petition in November

Image: Stop Killing Games/ UK Parliament

The UK Parliament will officially debate the “Stop Killing Games” petition on November 3, 2025, following months of public pressure and nearly 190,000 signatures from gamers who want stronger protections for digital purchases.

Background on the Petition

The petition, formally titled “Prohibit publishers irrevocably disabling video games they have already sold,” calls for changes to UK consumer law.

It was launched in April 2024, shortly after Ubisoft shut down The Crew on 31 March 2024 and began revoking player licenses.

According to its description:

"Most video games sold can work indefinitely, but some have design elements that render the product non-functional at a time which the publisher controls, with no date provided at sale. We see this as a form of planned obsolescence, as customers can be deprived of their purchase and cannot retain or repair the game. We think this practice is hostile to consumers, entirely preventable, and have concerns existing laws do not address the problem. Thus, we believe government intervention is needed."

It ran for just over a year, closing on 14 July 2025 with 189,888 signatures, which was well above the 100,000 threshold needed for Parliament to consider it for debate.

Government’s Initial Response

Back in February 2025, the UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) responded cautiously.

Officials pointed to existing laws like the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (CRA) and the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (CPR), arguing that these already provide "relevant protections" and stated there were "no plans to amend" them.

For those not steeped in legal jargon, the CRA ensures that digital products, including video games, must be of satisfactory quality, match their descriptions, and be fit for their intended use. That means if a game doesn’t meet these standards, you can ask for a repair, replacement, or refund. However, the CRA does not require publishers to keep older titles playable indefinitely.

The CPR, on the other hand, is focused on ensuring fair and transparent business practices, such as banning misleading information or hidden costs. If consumers are led to believe a game will remain playable indefinitely, the CPRs may require it to remain technically feasible (e.g., offline play) even after online support ends. While useful, it doesn’t directly address the problem of games being disabled after purchase.

The Digital Markets, Competition, and Consumers Act

Adding to the context is the Digital Markets, Competition, and Consumers (DMCC) Act 2024, which came into effect in April 2025.

This act updates consumer protections, giving regulators more power to crack down on unfair practices (such as Drip Pricing, Subscription Traps, Fake Reviews, and Misleading Advertising) and making it easier for consumers to get refunds.

However, as of now, the DMCC doesn’t explicitly prevent publishers from “killing” games. It focuses on transparency and fair trading rather than guaranteeing perpetual access. That’s why campaigners are pushing for the law to go further to specifically cover video games and digital services.

Possible changes on the table include:

• Clearer refund rights if online features are removed after purchase.

• Stricter bans on misleading information, such as advertising “permanent access” while planning shutdowns.

• Rules against drip pricing and fake reviews, ensuring developers are upfront about long-term support.

Europe Watching Closely

This movement isn’t limited to the UK. Across the EU, a parallel petition collected 1.45 million signatures before its deadline on July 31, 2025, well above the 1 million needed. According to organizers, almost 97% of those signatures have been validated, putting it in a strong position for further action.

Verification of signatures will run through late 2025, after which the European Commission and Parliament will need to decide on a legislative response. While Europe moves more slowly, the UK debate in November will likely set the tone for how lawmakers worldwide treat digital ownership.

You can watch the entire affair online on the UK Parliament YouTube channel on November 3.