Consumer Rights
Ongoing coverage on Consumer Rights.
Latest coverage
Stop Killing Games suffers setback following European Parliamentary hearing - but all is not lost
The European Commission has decided not to propose new legislation for online game preservation, stating that existing EU copyright and consumer laws provide sufficient safeguards. This ruling is a setback for the Stop Killing Games movement, which had petitioned for a legal framework to prevent games from becoming unplayable when online services are shut down. While the Commission will encourage an industry code of conduct and greater transparency, it will not mandate game companies to keep titles playable indefinitely.
The European Commission will not legislate Stop Killing Games, but the campaign isn't dead yet, say its organisers
The European Commission will not legislate to mandate that video games remain playable after commercial support ends, citing intellectual property rights. Instead, they will initiate discussions with the industry and consumer representatives to create a code of conduct for managing game 'end of life' and raise awareness about existing consumer rights. The 'Stop Killing Games' campaign plans to continue advocating for similar protections through the European Parliament's Digital Fairness Act.
EU rules against Stop Killing Games, but after 2 years of campaigning founder insists change is coming: "Our position almost seems too good to be true"
The EU Commission has decided against recommending new legislation to prevent publishers from revoking access to online-only games, a setback for the Stop Killing Games campaign. Despite this, campaign founder Ross Scott remains optimistic, stating that they have secured support within the EU Parliament to amend the Digital Fairness Act and pass legislation independently of the Commission's decision. The Commission will instead convene industry and consumer representatives to draft a code of conduct for managing the end-of-life for video games.
EU Commission to 'engage with the industry' over Stop Killing Games initiative
The European Commission will engage with the video game industry and consumers by the end of 2026 to address the issue of publishers disabling games. This follows a European Citizens' Initiative, 'Stop Killing Games,' which advocates for players to retain access to purchased titles. The Commission is exploring industry codes of conduct and leveraging existing consumer protection laws to incentivize longer game lifespans, citing Ubisoft's delisting and shutdown of The Crew as a key example.
Consumer rights champion and tech-whizz Louis Rossman is taking Samsung to court over a failed 990 Pro SSD it says it can't replace, even though Amazon has plenty of them in stock
Consumer rights advocate Louis Rossmann is suing Samsung over its warranty policy for a faulty 4 TB Samsung 990 Pro SSD. Rossmann claims Samsung refused to replace the drive, stating a shortage of replacement parts, despite the model being readily available for purchase on Amazon. The lawsuit aims to highlight issues with the company's warranty service and consumer protection.
Nintendo of Europe to pay 40m fine for Joy-Con drift issues
Nintendo of Europe has agreed to pay a €35 million fine after a French regulator found the company misled consumers about Joy-Con drift defects on the original Nintendo Switch controllers. The investigation revealed Nintendo was aware of the issues as early as 2018 but did not inform customers until 2020, leading to unnecessary controller purchases. Nintendo denies intentionally misleading consumers and states the settlement is an amicable resolution.
Morning Legal Briefs
This article briefly touches on two legal matters: BYD being added to a US list due to alleged Chinese military ties, and Louis Rossmann taking Samsung to court over its SSD warranty policy. The latter is presented as a personal grievance with a linked NSFW video.
Evening Legal Briefs
Nintendo of Europe has agreed to pay a €35 million fine to settle claims regarding defects with its Joy-Con controllers, specifically the "drift" issue. This legal settlement addresses consumer complaints about the faulty hardware.
Nintendo Fined €35 Million Over Widespread Joy-Con Defects
Nintendo has been fined €35 million by French authorities over widespread Joy-Con drifting defects affecting the Nintendo Switch. An investigation found Nintendo may have been aware of the issue as early as 2018 but failed to properly notify consumers until 2020, leading to many purchasing replacement controllers. Nintendo stated the fine does not constitute an admission of guilt.
Nintendo of Europe agrees to pay €35m fine for Joy-Con drift defects
Nintendo of Europe has agreed to pay a €35 million fine to French regulators following an investigation into Joy-Con drift defects on the original Nintendo Switch controllers. The French Directorate for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control found that Nintendo was aware of the issues as early as 2018 but did not fully disclose them to consumers until 2020, leading to unnecessary replacement controller purchases. Nintendo denies intentionally misleading consumers and states the settlement is an amicable resolution without admitting guilt.
Nintendo hit with €35 million fine over Switch Joy-Con drift
Nintendo has been fined €35 million by French authorities over misleading practices related to Joy-Con drift on the Nintendo Switch. The Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control determined that Nintendo of Europe failed to adequately inform consumers about the potential malfunction of the controllers between 2018 and 2023. Nintendo accepted the settlement and agreed to publish a notice on its French website.
Nintendo's finally developing replaceable batteries, so we presumably won't have to bin a Switch because the battery conked out
Nintendo has announced plans to develop hardware with replaceable batteries, including its Nintendo Switch consoles, in response to new EU regulations aimed at reducing electronic waste. This change, expected to take effect by February 2027, will allow consumers to replace batteries more easily, potentially extending the lifespan of devices and reducing the need for full replacements.
Nintendo announces new Switch 2 model with removable battery
Nintendo is releasing a revised Nintendo Switch 2 model in Europe with a user-replaceable battery to comply with new EU regulations taking effect in 2027. This change will also extend to updated Joy-Con and Pro Controllers. While currently only confirmed for Europe, players outside the EU may consider importing the more repair-friendly version.
"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.
Sony is being sued for alleged tariff 'double recovery windfall'
Sony is facing a lawsuit in California alleging the company will profit from tariff refunds, a 'double recovery windfall.' Plaintiffs claim Sony increased PlayStation console prices to offset tariffs, and now consumers believe they are entitled to the refunds Sony is set to receive. Nintendo of America is also being sued for similar reasons.
Latest PS5 Lawsuit Claims Sony Could 'Double Dip' on Trump's Tariffs
A new lawsuit filed against Sony claims the company could profit twice from US tariffs on imported goods. The suit argues that Sony increased PlayStation 5 prices due to tariffs and could also receive refunds from the government, potentially leading to a 'double dip' of funds. A similar lawsuit has also been filed against Nintendo.
Morning Legal Briefs
Amazon is facing a class action lawsuit from customers seeking refunds for 'unlawful' tariffs. The lawsuit alleges that the company failed to provide appropriate refunds to affected consumers.
As the Stop Killing Games initiative advances, blocky racing game Lego 2K Drive is being delisted tomorrow
Lego 2K Drive will be delisted from digital storefronts on May 19th, making it unavailable for purchase. While the game will remain playable offline after its servers shut down on May 31st, 2027, this move highlights the ongoing "Stop Killing Games" initiative advocating for game preservation.
California Protect Our Games Act backed by Stop Killing Games passes key hurdle
The California Protect Our Games Act, backed by Stop Killing Games, has passed a key hurdle in the California State Assembly Appropriations Committee. The bill aims to amend laws to prevent developers from completely removing access to digital games, requiring notice for server shutdowns and options for continued play or refunds. The Entertainment Software Association has lobbied against the bill, which now moves forward to the assembly floor.
California bill pushing to keep games playable after server shutdowns passes key hurdle, paving way for full assembly vote
A California bill, AB 1921, aimed at game preservation has passed a key hurdle in the state's Committee on Appropriations. The bill requires studios to either maintain online game functionality or offer refunds, and faces opposition from the Entertainment Software Association. It now moves to a full assembly vote, with the governor having the final say if it passes the legislature.
