As game preservation becomes a widely discussed issue, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot has directly addressed the "Stop Killing Games" movement during a recent shareholder meeting. The petition, which has garnered nearly 1.4 million signatures, calls for legislative action to protect consumer rights and prevent games from being permanently removed or rendered unplayable after support ends. 
The movement gained traction after Ubisoft shut down servers for its racing game "The Crew" last year, sparking player protests and legal action. Following the incident, Ubisoft announced it would introduce offline modes for its sequels, "The Crew 2" and "The Crew Motorfest," in an effort to mitigate player dissatisfaction.
According to meeting minutes revealed by "Game File," an activist shareholder questioned Guillemot on whether Ubisoft would acknowledge the petition and implement future game preservation measures. Guillemot responded by stating that Ubisoft provides long-term support and services for its games upon release, but conceded that all software eventually faces the reality of an "end of life."
"We make players aware that games may be terminated at some point," Guillemot stated. "Nothing is eternal, but we will do our best to minimize the impact of this process on players."
He further emphasized that this challenge is not unique to Ubisoft but is an industry-wide issue. Guillemot also mentioned that "The Crew 2" was promoted for €1 for two weeks in 2024, with a promise of future offline play functionality.
While Guillemot did not directly comment on whether legislation should be enacted to protect player rights, he reiterated Ubisoft's ongoing commitment to improving the player experience and seeking long-term technical solutions.
The "Stop Killing Games" movement continues to advocate for EU legislation, hoping to establish institutionalized mechanisms for game preservation and prevent similar incidents from recurring. As the petition gains momentum, the question of how the gaming industry can balance commercial operations with cultural preservation has become an unavoidable challenge for players and companies worldwide.
via： Game File