The European Commission has launched the formal examination process of a European Citizens’ Initiative calling for the protection and continued functionality of video games sold or licensed in the EU, after the campaign successfully met all legal requirements.
Initiative Meets EU Thresholds
The European Citizens’ Initiative titled “Stop Destroying Video Games” was formally submitted to the European Commission on Monday by its organisers.
Registered in June 2024, the initiative gathered 1,294,188 validated statements of support from EU citizens and reached the required national thresholds in 24 member states. This makes it the 14th valid European Citizens’ Initiative to qualify for formal consideration by the Commission.
Under the rules governing the European Citizens’ Initiative, once an initiative surpasses one million validated signatures, the Commission is legally obliged to examine it and issue a response within six months.
What the Initiative Demands
The organisers are calling on the Commission to introduce an obligation for publishers who sell or license video games in the EU to keep those games in a functional state.
Taking into account the existing EU digital rule book, this initiative aims to tackle problematic practices such as:
- unfair commercial practices related to dark patterns
- misleading marketing by influencers
- addictive design of digital products
- unfair personalisation practices.
The aim is to prevent publishers from remotely disabling games after purchase or licensing, a practice that critics argue undermines consumer rights and the preservation of digital cultural products.
Next Steps and Timeline
The Commission has until 27 July 2026 to present its official response, outlining whether it intends to take action and, if so, what form that action may take.
In the coming weeks, Commission officials will meet with the initiative’s organisers for in-depth discussions. This will be followed by a public hearing organised by the European Parliament, giving MEPs the opportunity to examine the proposal and question its proponents.
The outcome of the process will determine whether the initiative leads to legislative proposals, non-legislative measures, or no further action at EU level.