The European Commission has declined to propose legislation that would force video game publishers to keep games playable after commercial support ends.
In its official response to the European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) 'Stop Destroying Videogames', the Commission stated that it cannot, at this stage, impose a legal obligation to maintain game functionality once commercial support concludes. The decision is based on existing intellectual property rights under EU law.
Existing Consumer Protections
The Commission noted that current EU consumer law already provides certain safeguards for players. These include:
- Requirements for video game providers to inform consumers about contract duration and termination conditions.
- Remedies available under the Directive on digital content and digital services for products that are deemed non-conforming.
New Actions Announced
To address ongoing consumer concerns, the Commission announced two concrete steps:
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Industry Code of Conduct: Initiate an exchange with the video game industry and consumer representatives to develop an industry code of conduct on managing games' 'end of life'.
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Awareness and Reporting: Work with consumer organisations and authorities to raise awareness of existing consumer rights, and report on the application of the Directive on digital content and digital services by the end of 2026.
The ECI had specifically called for legislation ensuring players can continue playing games after publishers stop providing support. This marks the fourteenth initiative to receive a formal Commission response since ECIs were launched in 2012.