Commission will engage with industry following European Citizens\' Initiative on the disabling of videogames by publishers
ec.europa.eu
The European Commission will engage with consumers and publishers by the end of 2026 to explore ways to improve industry standards, as a response to the European Citizens\' Initiative (ECI) ‘Stop Destroying Videogames\'.\u202F

Cross posted from https://feddit.org/post/31333476

Existing EU consumer law already provides for important safeguards protecting the economic interests of consumers. Video game providers must inform consumers about the duration and the conditions for terminating the contract before the consumers signs up for the video game. […]

However, to address players’ concerns, the Commission has committed to taking several steps.

First, it will initiate an exchange with the video game industry and consumer representatives with the aim to draw up an industry code of conduct on managing video games’ ‘end of life’.

Second, the Commission will work with consumer organisations and authorities to raise awareness about the applicable rights that protect consumers, including on safeguards protecting the economic interests of consumers

Edit: edited title for more clarity.

  • Frenchgeek@lemmy.mlEnglish
    2·
    5 days ago

    I mean that’s literally what’s asked for: Follow European sales laws by considering the game as a rental (so, monthly subscription), or provide a legally mandated end date before buying (legally considering the product as a perishable in short), or provide the means for the customer to continue to use their product (with either tools or documentation, you don’t have to keep running the servers forever).

    The fact big players in the industry try to dismiss to whole thing as an overreaction by out of touch kids when they already do the work that would make them compliant as a part of game dev is more an insult than anything else.