EU rules out mandate to keep video games playable, seeks voluntary code

The European Commission has stated it lacks the legal authority to compel video game companies to keep games playable indefinitely after they are withdrawn from sale. Instead, the Commission announced it will collaborate with the video game industry and consumer organizations to develop a voluntary code of conduct. This code will address how to manage games' "end of life" phases.

The initiative comes in the wake of a lawsuit filed by French consumer group UFC-Que Choisir against Ubisoft. The group sued in March after Ubisoft shut down the servers for its online racing game, "The Crew," making it permanently unplayable for those who had purchased it. The "Stop Killing Games" campaign has supported this legal action, which highlights player concerns after similar controversies.

Ubisoft has argued that players purchased limited access to the game, not full ownership. However, UFC-Que Choisir alleges that the company misled consumers regarding the game's availability duration and imposed unfair contract terms that stripped players of their ownership rights. The Commission acknowledged that existing copyright and intellectual property laws prevent it from imposing a mandatory obligation for continued game accessibility.

While unable to enforce mandatory playability, the Commission stated it would work with consumer organizations and authorities to increase awareness of consumers' existing rights. The Commission believes that the active enforcement of these rights can encourage game providers to offer titles with longer lifespans and explore solutions that meet consumer expectations. Both UFC-Que Choisir and the "Stop Killing Games" campaign have not yet responded to requests for comment.