The UK government has responded to a petition calling for legislative changes to prevent video game publishers from taking games offline after they have been purchased. It confirmed it has no intentions to modify consumer laws on this issue but will monitor the ongoing concerns.

In a recent response, the government stated, “we have no plans to amend consumer law on digital obsolescence.” This follows a previous petition made by the Stop Killing Games campaign less than a year ago, which similarly urged legal changes to protect consumers against losses of access to paid content. Although the petition was closed early due to a general election, a new petition led by Lewis Evans currently has over 12,000 signatures.

Evans argues that many video games sold can function indefinitely, yet some are designed to stop working at the publisher’s discretion, which he calls “planned obsolescence.”

Reiterating its previous stance, the government pointed out that existing consumer laws are believed to be adequate, supporting the notion that game publishers are not required to maintain older versions of their games. It recognizes consumer concerns but insists that those feeling misled regarding their purchases should engage with consumer protection agencies.

More Context: The Stop Killing Games advocate, Ross Scott, has criticized the lack of clarity in how subscription services communicate the lifespan of their games and whether this information is accessible enough to the average consumer. Scott argues for clearer communication about potential service disruptions of live-service games, emphasizing that consumers deserve better protection regarding their digital purchases.