Pro-Gamer Consumer Movement 'Stop Killing Games' Will Launch NGOs in America and the US

Source: Slashdot

Overview

The consumer movement Stop Killing Games has grown significantly since YouTuber Ross Scott’s 2024 outcry over Ubisoft’s shutdown of The Crew — a campaign highlighted by PC Gamer.

Petition Success

• 1.3 million people signed the petition, surpassing the threshold required for formal consideration by the European Union (source).
• Ubisoft’s CEO Yves Guillemot responded that “nothing is forever” (source), and the company pledged never to repeat such actions (source).
• Following the pledge, The Crew 2 received an offline‑mode update, as reported by Engadget (source).

Launch of NGOs

On Thursday, PC Gamer reported that Ross Scott announced the creation of two official NGOs—one based in the European Union and one in the United States (source).

What Is an NGO?

A non‑governmental organization (NGO) is an entity that pursues specific goals—often political or humanitarian—without being part of any government. NGOs may receive partial or full funding from governments but operate independently. Well‑known examples include Oxfam, Doctors Without Borders, Amnesty International, and CARE International.

Intended Role of the New NGOs

• Lobbying & Counter‑Lobbying: Provide a structured channel for “long‑term counter lobbying” when publishers discontinue support for video games (Engadget).
• Watchdog Activities: Develop tools such as a multilingual reporting site for consumers to flag game shutdowns to consumer‑protection agencies.
• Legal Advocacy: Work toward codifying the original Stop Killing Games petition into EU law and produce a comprehensive legal paper (≈ 500 pages) exposing controversial industry practices.
• Global Expansion: While details remain limited, the NGOs aim to establish a “global movement” that can replicate the initiative in other regions.

Future Plans

• Engagement with Regulators: Campaign leadership expects to meet with the European Commission soon.
• Legal Documentation: A 500‑page legal dossier is in preparation to detail industry practices and support legislative change.
• Reporting Infrastructure: Plans include a system for consumers to report publishers that revoke access to purchased games.

“Let me start off by saying I think we’re going to win this, namely the problem of publishers destroying video games that you’ve already paid for,” Ross Scott said in the announcement video.

The NGOs aim to transform consumer frustration into concrete policy action, ensuring that purchased video games remain accessible even after official support ends.