On August 11, Ars Technica hosts a live conversation with Ross Scott, founder of the Stop Killing Games movement, to discuss video game preservation, government petitions, and ongoing legislative action sparked by Ubisoft shutting down servers for The Crew in 2024.
Video game preservation faces mounting pressure as players confront the reality of favorite titles becoming unplayable after centralized online servers shut down, or losing access to digitally delisted games from the past. According to Ars Technica, these challenges form the core of an upcoming live discussion slated for August 11 at 2:30 pm ET, featuring Ross Scott, the founder of the Stop Killing Games campaign.
Origins of the Stop Killing Games Movement
Scott established the Stop Killing Games movement in 2024 following Ubisoft’s decision to shut down the servers for The Crew. Since that time, the campaign has helped gather millions of signatures from gamers on government petitions. These petitions demand legislative action to ensure perpetual access to purchased games, either through continued centralized server support or by providing players with options to maintain their own servers.
The grassroots effort has already yielded concrete political engagement. According to reporting from Ars Technica, the movement has prompted an official parliamentary debate, a response from the European Commission, and proposed legislation currently moving through the California legislature.
The Shift Away From Physical Discs and Industry Friction
The broader debate over long-term game access coincides with shifting industry business models, notably recent moves by companies like Sony to stop selling PlayStation discs. According to IGN reporting, the European Union stated it is powerless to stop PlayStation from discontinuing physical discs, noting that companies are free to offer games and services in the manner they see fit.
Upcoming Discussion Details and Future Outlook
During the live Ars Live event, editors and organizers will query Scott on how the movement came together, the underlying drivers of gamer interest in long-term preservation, and the feasibility of legislating away these access problems. The conversation will also examine how Sony’s transition away from physical media impacts the wider debate on player ownership.
Audiences can watch the scheduled discussion live on YouTube as the conversation unfolds, tracking whether legal frameworks in California and Europe can ultimately reshape how publishers handle the end-of-life cycle for modern video games.
Worth a look
