Jason “Thor” Hall, a Twitch streamer and former Blizzard Entertainment developer, has voiced his opposition to the Stop Killing Games initiative since it launched in 2024. His reasoning has been detailed in multiple YouTube videos and live Twitch discussions, raising questions among gamers about why a passionate member of the gaming community would reject a campaign seemingly aimed at preserving endangered games.

The Stop Killing Games Initiative, which was initiated by Ross Scott through an online petition, seeks to implement consumer protection laws in the EU to prevent game developers from indiscriminately shutting down video games. Despite the clarity of the initiative’s goals, Pirate Software has raised concerns that it could inadvertently harm developers. Hall’s opposition has led to significant backlash, including threats against him. Thus, many are intrigued to hear his reasoning against the Stop Killing Games Movement, which has garnered intense debate within the gaming community.

According to Hall, Pirate Software opposes the Stop Killing Games petition for several reasons: 1) He argues the demands are unattainable for all games, 2) it may deter developers from producing live-service games, and 3) the petition’s ambiguous language suggests that all games should remain playable indefinitely, which he believes is impractical. To bolster his stance, Hall has also referenced a blog post that discusses potential legal conflicts, warning that such legislation might lead to governmental overreach.

The Backlash Against Hall

Although Hall has publicly criticized the Stop Killing Games initiative since 2024, recent comments have reignited backlash from certain gamer factions. Much of the criticism stems from his perceived anti-consumer remarks. For example, Hall has stated, “I think live-service games getting [shut down] is fine; I have no problem with the end of a game.” Given the recent trend of game shutdowns, this position has provoked frustration among gamers.

Prominent creators like Asmongold and Charles White Jr. (penguinz0) have condemned Hall, believing he has misinterpreted the petition’s aims. In contrast, SKG creator Ross Scott has released a clarifying video on YouTube, arguing that the petition’s true intention is to mandate that developers outline end-of-life plans for their games and permit players to maintain their games on community or private servers instead of shutting them down altogether. The ongoing conflict between Scott and Hall illustrates a split in the gaming community, with both parties firmly entrenched in their respective views.