A European initiative titled “Stop Destroying Videogames,” inspired by the “Stop Killing Games” movement, has expressed optimism about advancing its petition to the legislative stage. This follows the verification of nearly half of its target of 1.4 million signatures across 15 EU member nations.

The campaign aims to persuade the European Union to implement regulations that would prevent video game publishers from remotely disabling games and to ensure that players have reasonable alternatives to continue using these games without publisher intervention. Their European Citizens’ Initiative surpassed the necessary 1 million signatures before the petition’s closure in July, which qualifies it for presentation to the EU for a potential public hearing or debate in the European Parliament, contingent on successful signature verification.

In a recent update, the campaign confirmed that out of 1,448,270 signatures collected, 689,035 have already been verified, with 15 countries meeting their signature requirements. While Germany and France have yet to complete their verification processes, the campaign remains confident about achieving the necessary thresholds, noting that only about 3% of the signatures have been disqualified so far.

Organizers of “Stop Destroying Videogames” have been actively engaging with Members of the European Parliament, national governments, and various political parties throughout the verification phase, preparing for the legislative process ahead. They are also seeking support from experts in academia, emphasizing the importance of addressing challenging questions credibly. Previously, they have stated their commitment to countering misinformation and industry lobbying efforts.

The campaign highlights that its fight is not against a unified corporate front but rather against a few companies that jeopardize beloved video games. They call for dialogue with game developers of all sizes who oppose harmful practices. While they acknowledge that they cannot reverse past damage, they believe they can prevent future issues. “If we allow a small number of bad actors to set the agenda, we will continue to face challenges that should not exist,” the update warns.

The initiative concludes by urging EU citizens to connect with their local governments, consumer protection organizations, and favorite game studios to amplify their message. They also invite developers to voice their opinions. “We are already in discussions with various industry figures. If we have not reached you yet, please get in touch. We are organizing public events and aim to showcase potential changes in front of parliament.”

In July, the industry group Video Games Europe, representing major entities like Ubisoft, Take-Two, and Activision Blizzard, asserted that the proposals from the initiative could make game development unviable due to high costs.