Video Games Europe
Video Games Europe business and news from across the web.
"The timing is impossible to ignore": Stop Killing Games says Ubisoft attended "invitation-only" meeting with EU Commission ahead of response to campaign sparked by The Crew shutdown, but it "was not invited"The Stop Killing Games movement alleges that Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot attended an "invitation-only" meeting with the European Commission shortly before the commission's planned response to their European Citizens' Initiative. The movement, which advocates against games being taken offline after purchase, was not invited to this meeting. This comes after Ubisoft shut down The Crew, a decision that has led to legal action and scrutiny from consumer authorities.
The California State Assembly passes AB 1921, Stop Killing Games' Protect Our Games ActThe California State Assembly has passed Assembly Bill 1921, the Protect Our Games Act, which aims to improve game preservation. Championed by Assembly Member Chris Ward, the bill requires video game companies to provide advance notice before shutting down server-dependent games and offer options for continued play, such as offline access. The bill now moves to the California State Senate for further consideration.
Stop Killing Games consumer protection bill passes floor vote in CaliforniaThe California State Assembly has passed the Protect Our Games Act (AB 1921), a bill aimed at protecting consumer rights and ensuring game preservation. The legislation, motivated by incidents like Ubisoft's shutdown of The Crew, would require publishers to provide offline access or refunds when server-dependent games are discontinued. The bill now moves to the California State Senate, facing opposition from industry groups like Video Games Europe and the ESA who argue it could increase development costs and stifle innovation.- EU Politician Muddies Waters On “Stop Killing Games” With Rant On WokenessA European Union parliamentary debate on the "Stop Killing Games" movement, which advocates for publishers to keep games online after purchase, was sidetracked by Slovakian politician Milan Uhrik. Uhrik focused on "wokeness" and "aggressive monetization," citing Assassin's Creed Shadows as an example of forced political correctness. The discussion also touched upon Ubisoft's decision to shut down The Crew and the industry's perspective on games as a service.
Game industry lobby group that argued against preservation efforts from libraries is now pushing back on Stop Killing Games, saying it could prevent 'new games, features, and technology'The game industry lobby group ESA is pushing back against the 'Stop Killing Games' initiative, arguing that preservation efforts could hinder the development of new games and technologies. This follows similar arguments made by Video Games Europe, which warned of increased development costs and potential exposure to unsafe community content. The ESA has a history of lobbying against game preservation efforts, including past arguments against DMCA allowances for libraries.