Stop Killing Games Initiative Accused of Violating EU Rules

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The founder of “Stop Killing Games,” Ross Scott, has recently shared a video outlining allegations made against him and the organization’s practice of obscuring facts and potentially misleading the EU Parliament. This movement was initiated as a reaction to Ubisoft’s delisting of The Crew in 2024, with the aim to persuade game publishers into establishing an “end-of-life” strategy for their games. This ensures that players who have paid for these games continue to own them significantly after online services cease operation.

After Ross Scott’s video blew up in June, capturing attention from various media outlets and content creators alike, the momentum behind the movement became palpable. In just a month, the Stop Killing Games’ EU petition gathered an astounding 1.4 million signatures. Provided there are no unexpected hurdles, this significant number should pave the way for the petition to reach the EU Parliament, giving lawmakers the opportunity to scrutinize its proposal. As a cinema devotee and supporter of gaming, I find this development truly exciting!

In a recent YouTube broadcast, Ross Scott claimed that an anonymous source has accused the organization “Stop Destroying Videogames,” which manages the European Citizens Initiative, of breaking EU regulations. The accusations include making a False No Funding Declaration and Systemically Concealing Major Contributions. The claim is that Scott’s work for the campaign amounts to around €63,000-147,000 in professional contributions and falls under transparency regulations as in-kind contributions. If true, these types of contributions should have been declared according to EU laws, but if they were not, it suggests that the petition is noncompliant with those laws.

Anonymous Complaint Alleges Stop Killing Games Violated EU Transparency Regulations

Scott asserted that every accusation made against him was unfounded, drawing evidence from the EU Parliament’s public website to support his stance. He additionally explained that his position as a volunteer doesn’t equate to being a sponsor according to ECI regulations, contrary to the claim in the complaint. Furthermore, Scott contended that although he frequently put in extensive hours for the EU petition titled “Stop Destroying Videogames” to succeed, this does not classify as “professional contributions,” since he doesn’t fall under the legal definition of a professional in this context.

As a fervent supporter, I can’t help but feel that the recent criticism aimed at Stop Killing Games isn’t just coming from any ordinary concerned citizen. Rather, it seems to me that this could be the latest tactic from within the industry, an effort to stifle the initiative in its early stages.

In the video, Scott explained that the EU petition won’t likely face negative consequences due to the complaint, since the allegations lack substantial legal ground. However, he cautioned that potential future attacks on the initiative might be more accurate. In conclusion, while there’s a significant amount of opposition, Scott pointed out that the movement has its supporters as well, using the Vice President of the EU Parliament’s endorsement of Stop Killing Games as an example.

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2025-07-22 14:41