When Ubisoft said it would close The Crew’s servers in 2024, players poured out a protest that escalated into a formal campaign. The move cut off access for a game that drew 12 million users. Ross Scott, creator of the Stop Killing Games movement, gathered 1.3 million signatures for a European Citizens’ Initiative, sparking a parliamentary hearing in the week of April.

The campaign argues that shutting down a game permanently violates consumer rights. Critics claim it would raise development costs for live‑service titles. Scott insists publishers must plan end‑of‑life strategies, such as offline modes or software that lets players keep running titles. The initiative has already prompted legal action in France and debates in the UK and California.

The European Commission must answer the petition by July 27, while the UK government states it will monitor the issue under existing consumer law. California’s Protect Our Games Act now faces the Senate, potentially mandating refunds or continued playability. If courts side with players, publishers could be forced to keep servers running long after a title’s commercial life ends for future use and community.