The EU initiative “Stop Destroying Videogames,” also known as “Stop Killing Games,” recently achieved a major milestone by collecting one million signatures, fulfilling the final requirement set by the EU. While the campaign initially sparked enthusiasm, it faced hurdles as momentum slowed and media coverage dwindled.
By January 2025, the situation seemed bleak. The initiative had garnered only 415,000 of the necessary one million signatures with just five months remaining, and it was struggling to raise awareness in many EU countries. Despite this, there was a remarkable turnaround.
In the final days, the initiative gained traction when the media highlighted its potential failure, leading to a surge in signatures and surpassing the required country quotas in 23 EU nations. Notably, Slovenia and Bulgaria made significant efforts, with Slovenia narrowly hitting its target and Bulgaria coming close.
The Nordic countries played a key role in this resurgence. However, Luxembourg, Malta, and Cyprus lagged, achieving between 37% and 52% of their quotas. Organizers emphasize the importance of continuing to collect signatures to account for any that might be deemed invalid.
As this initiative gains momentum, the response from the EU remains to be seen. The outcome will unfold in the upcoming months and years, impacting the future of video gaming regulations across Europe.
