Two years after launching a long-shot campaign to prevent publishers from shuttering server-dependent video games, the Stop Killing Games movement has reached a massive milestone. Founder Ross Scott and organizer Moritz Katzner recently appeared before the European Parliament to present their case, and the reception was nothing short of transformative for the initiative.

Positive Reception in the European Parliament

While parliamentary committee hearings can often be dry, the discourse surrounding the Stop Killing Games hearing was remarkably charged with interest. The movement isn't asking for the impossible; rather, it is pushing for reasonable consumer protections to ensure games remain playable once they are no longer profitable.

During the session, consultant Daniel Ondruška clarified that the initiative isn't seeking eternal online support or the resurrection of long-dead titles. Instead, it focuses on preventing future shutdowns through better design and business decisions.

Key points raised during the discussion included:

  • Design vs. Business: Modern games often lack the longevity of titles from 20 years ago due to intentional design and business choices.
  • End-of-Life Planning: Ross Scott noted that factoring "end-of-life" requirements into a game's development budget has a "very small" impact on total costs.
  • Faulty Estimates: Current studio estimates for shutdown costs are often inflated by including features that aren't necessary for an offline version of a game.

'Mission Achieved' Despite the Long Road Ahead

The sentiment among Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) was overwhelmingly favorable. Anna Cavazzini, chair of the Committees on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection, congratulated the speakers for their work, noting that she had heard support from "basically all the political groups" regarding the initiative. MEP Ilhan Kyuchyuk echoed this, highlighting the broad support within relevant committees.

Following the hearing, organizer Moritz Katzner described the atmosphere as "absolutely incredible." Speaking during a post-hearing press conference on Twitch, Katzner remarked that it was hard to find an MEP who didn't respond positively to their presentation.

"I think that everyone that watched it might have noticed that there was no MEP that wasn't responding positively," Katzner said. "Even the commission was pretty positive, I'd say."

Momentum for the Stop Killing Games Movement

While Katzner acknowledged that this hearing is merely the first step into the formal legislative process, he maintained that for the purpose of this specific appearance, it was "mission achieved." Ross Scott agreed, suggesting that even with more preparation time, the outcome likely would have remained the same due to the strength of their position.

The Stop Killing Games movement has had a powerhouse start to 2026:

  • February: The organization announced the launch of NGOs in both the EU and US to conduct long-term lobbying.
  • March: The group backed a lawsuit against Ubisoft, filed by France's leading consumer association, regarding the shutdown of The Crew.

Though Katzner warned that "there's a long road ahead," the momentum generated by this European Parliament hearing suggests the movement is no longer just a niche concern—it is a legitimate legislative force.