Stop Destroying Videogames Campaign Target of Anonymous Complaint
Sophie Laurent 
Key Takeaways
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- The Stop Destroying Video Games initiative, aiming to enforce EU laws for game preservation after official support ends, has gathered over 1.4 million signatures but faces scrutiny due to allegations of undisclosed funding sources and potential violations of transparency rules.
- Ross Scott, the lead of the initiative, denies these accusations, stating he has never received money for his involvement. The European Commission is yet to issue a decision on the matter.
- Ubisofts shutdown of servers for games like The Crew has sparked debates about digital game preservation, with the company acknowledging the complexity and exploring solutions but not making specific promises.
- The initiative continues to gain support from European lawmakers despite these challenges, remaining committed to pushing for change in game preservation policies.
Anonymous Challenge to “Stop Destroying Video Games” Initiative Over Funding Transparency
The “Stop Destroying Video Games” initiative, a campaign advocating for EU laws that would compel publishers to ensure games remain functional after official support ends, has garnered over 1.4 million signatures. This figure significantly surpasses the one million signatures required for a European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) to proceed to formal verification and potential public debate or a parliamentary session. Despite this success, the initiative is currently under scrutiny following an anonymous complaint filed under EU transparency rules. The complaint alleges a lack of transparency regarding its funding sources, specifically citing undisclosed large donors. It further accuses content creator Ross Scott, who leads the initiative, of failing to disclose significant contributions and potentially exceeding limits for voluntary work. Scott has denied these allegations, stating that he has never received money for his involvement in the initiative. The European Commission has yet to issue a decision on the matter. Typically, the Commission contacts organizers to clarify such issues without immediately mentioning penalties. Scott believes the complaint may be an attempt by the video game industry, potentially driven by political or corporate motives, to impede the initiative’s progress.
Ubisoft’s Game Shutdown Sparks Debate on Digital Preservation and Solutions Sought
Nevertheless, the initiative has secured support from several European lawmakers and remains determined to continue its efforts. The initiative’s relevance gained prominence after Ubisoft shut down servers for games like The Crew, intensifying discussions about digital game preservation. When recently questioned about the issue, Ubisoft’s CEO, Yves Guillemot, acknowledged its complexity and indicated that the company is exploring solutions, though he did not make specific promises.
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Ahmed Hassan 
Marcus Thompson 
