I’ll be honest: I’m not a gamer.
But when I saw the headline “Stop Killing Games petition crosses 1 million signatures,”
I stopped scrolling.

A million people? Signing to save access to online games?
That number made me pause.
Not because I’m emotionally attached to online shooters or forgotten MMOs…
but because it says something bigger is broken.

This isn’t just a gaming issue.
It’s a digital brand trust issue.
And if you’re building anything online (content, a product, a platform) you need to pay attention.

‍What’s going on?

The petition (called “Stop Killing Games”) was started by Ross Scott, a YouTube creator behind the channel Accursed Farms. He’s been campaigning for years against what he calls “digital extinction”: when online-only games are shut down with no way for players to access them ever again.

Now, the petition has crossed 1 million signatures, enough to trigger an official response from the European Commission under the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI).

What does that mean? The EU is now required to:

• Review the petition
  
• Hold public hearings
  
• And possibly propose new laws

The ask is pretty straightforward:
If a game is shut down or delisted, publishers should offer a way to keep it playable, offline mode, open-source release, or private servers. Just don’t let it disappear forever.

The gaming industry, of course, isn’t thrilled.

A major lobbying group, Video Games Europe, which represents publishers (like EA, Ubisoft, Nintendo, even Netflix) says these rules would be too much and “prohibitively expensive.”

The petition is still climbing, now aiming for 1.4 million signatures before July 31, just in case some are ruled invalid.

TL;DR:

• The “Stop Killing Games” petition just hit 1 million signatures, triggering an EU review.
  
• It demands that online-only games stay playable after shutdowns, via offline modes or private servers.
  
• The European Commission must now respond, hold hearings, and possibly introduce legislation.
  
• Publishers say it’s too expensive and risky.
  
• Gamers (and creators) say: we paid for it, don’t delete it.
  
  
• It’s not just about games. It’s about digital trust, ownership, and longevity.

What this means for small brands like us

Okay, so you're not running a AAA game studio.
You might sell an online course, offer monthly subscriptions, run a fitness app, or host a membership community.

Here's the real takeaway:

Your customers aren’t just buying content or features, they’re buying trust in your brand’s continuity and reliability.

Even if you're subscription-based, customers expect clarity around their access, how long it's available, how cancellations work, and what happens if your product disappears entirely.

When that trust breaks down
when your product suddenly vanishes, changes without warning, or ends abruptly
your relationship with customers takes a serious hit.

Here’s how small brands and creators can protect and strengthen that trust, inspired by the “Stop Killing Games” saga:

1. Access is the real productYour app, ebook, or masterclass feels valuable only while people can open it. Build simple offline or export options from day one. No budget for fancy servers? A downloadable PDF or CSV beats radio silence.

2. Sunset scripts protect loyalty
Write a plain-language “what happens if we close?” page. Explain timelines, refunds, and data hand-offs. Transparency costs nothing yet saves trust.

3. Continuity is a selling point
Promise lifetime access only if you have a plan to honor it. If you cannot, offer tiered pricing that covers hosting or a clear archive path. Customers will pay more once they see you planned for the long game.

4. Community can keep your product alive
Let power users take the reins. A Facebook group, Notion doc, or open-source handoff can turn customers into caretakers, and save your brand from disappearing.

5. Consumers are more powerful than ever

One YouTuber's outrage just triggered a potential shift in EU law. Your customers may not have legal teams, but they have audiences, TikTok, and a very loud change.org link.

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