A Distraction From Core Issues

The European Union parliament is currently debating a critical question: do game publishers have a moral and legal obligation to keep online servers running for titles players have already purchased? This discussion is central to the Stop Killing Games movement, which seeks to protect consumer rights in an industry increasingly prone to server shutdowns.

However, the debate was derailed by Slovakian politician Milan Uhrik, who chose to focus on cultural grievances rather than the economic and legal realities of digital ownership. His intervention shifted the spotlight away from player protection and toward a contentious argument about representation.

The "Wokeness" Controversy

Uhrik’s speech centered on his personal criticism of modern game design trends, specifically targeting what he described as "woke ideology." He argued that aggressive monetization and forced political correctness were destroying the medium.

“Wokeness and aggressive monetization is destroying videogames,” Uhrik stated. He claimed that players are being forced into specific roles without choice, citing Assassin’s Creed Shadows as a primary example.

“if we want to play as a samurai, obviously we want to play as a Japanese warrior and not to be forced to play as a Black person warrior or female warrior as it happened recently in Assassin’s Creed. Or to play as a queer character, without any other choice.”

This critique ignored the historical context of the game in question. Assassin’s Creed Shadows featured Yasuke, a real historical figure who was a samurai of African descent living in Japan during the late 16th century. The game offered players a choice between Yasuke and a fictional character, Naoe, allowing for diverse playstyles rather than forcing a single narrative path.

The Real Debate: Digital Ownership and Service Models

While Uhrik focused on cultural representation, the actual parliamentary discussion revolves around the sustainability of online services. The Stop Killing Games movement gained traction after Ubisoft shut down the servers for The Crew. In response, YouTube host Ross Scott launched the initiative to challenge the legal standing of publishers who sell games but then withdraw the core service.

The industry has pushed back against these proposals. Video Games Europe, an EU lobbying association, argued that mandatory server maintenance would:

  • Curtail developer choice.
  • Make creating video games prohibitively expensive.
  • Stifle innovation in the sector.

Ubisoft’s Stance on Game Longevity

The tension between consumer expectations and corporate reality was highlighted by Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot during a 2025 shareholders meeting. He acknowledged that while games are services, they are not eternal.

“Nothing is written in stone and at some point the service may be discontinued,” Guillemot explained. He admitted that support for all games cannot last forever, describing it as an ongoing industry challenge to minimize impact on players while managing business realities.

Despite the emotional and cultural arguments raised by politicians like Uhrik, the core issue remains unresolved. The debate continues to play out in the European Union parliament, where the focus is not on who players get to control, but on who owns the digital infrastructure they have paid for.