AS games increasingly change to an all-digital always-online format, there are concerns over ownership and preservation.
Currently, when you purchase a game, the publisher still owns the rights to that game and can remove it at any time.
This most recently happened with Ubisoft’s The Crew, which is no longer playable even if you own it.
The game has been removed from players’ libraries and there is no option to play it even offline.
Reacting to this, gamers have launched the Stop Killing Games campaign, which hopes to preserve games that require online servers to be played.
A petition from the campaign to the UK government reads: “Many video games rely on servers. When these are shut down, games can be left unplayable where no action is taken to remove this dependency.
“We believe this is effectively robbing customers, leaving them with no recourse to retain their purchases.”
After the petition received 10k signatures, the Department of Culture, Media and Sport was forced to respond to consumers’ concerns.
However, it wasn’t the answer people were hoping to receive, as the department confirmed that there is no law in place to prevent games from becoming unplayable.
The response reads: “The Government recognises recent concerns raised by video games users regarding the long-term operability of purchased products.
“Consumers should be aware that there is no requirement in UK law compelling software companies and providers to support older versions of their operating systems, software, or connected products.
“There may be occasions where companies make commercial decisions based on the high running costs of maintaining older servers for video games that have declining user bases.
“However, video games sellers must comply with existing consumer law, including the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.”
Essentially, the law will only step in to protect consumers if it is ruled that the game was marketed as being available indefinitely.
This is rarely the case, as most games have a clause stating that the publisher retains the rights to all digital content, including the right to remove it.
The petition currently has almost 25k signatures and will be brought before Parliament if it reaches 100k signatures.
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