Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot remarked that the company is aware of the ongoing concerns related to older online games, particularly in light of the Stop Killing Games initiative. He stated that “nothing is eternal” regarding the maintenance of live services. This comment follows inquiries about the recently launched campaign prompted by Ubisoft’s shutdown of The Crew.

The Stop Killing Games movement gained attention after it was initiated in April 2024 by content creator Ross Scott, following the closure of The Crew. The campaign has drawn both supporters and critics, particularly from major companies like EA, which expressed concerns regarding the feasibility of maintaining older games and possible security risks tied to servers hosted by users. However, the movement received backing from Nicolae Stefanuta, Vice President of the European Parliament, after successfully garnering over 1.35 million signatures for an EU Citizens’ Initiative. The petition remains open for EU citizens until July 31.

Guillemot acknowledged the challenges faced by publishers in discontinuing live services, stating, “You provide a service, but nothing is written in stone, and at some point, the service may be discontinued. Nothing is eternal.” He also highlighted a temporary offer that allowed fans to purchase The Crew sequel for just $1 to keep the series alive before its termination.

Despite criticisms from organizations like Video Games Europe, which argue that ongoing support could stifle developers’ freedom, the Stop Killing Games initiative insists it is not opposed to publishers ending support. Instead, they advocate for a sustainable end-of-life plan enabling patches or modifications to allow games to operate without further company support. Guillemot assured that Ubisoft is working on launching an offline mode for The Crew 2 by the end of 2025, although no specific timelines were provided.