tl;dw: There is a much broader support for SKG in the European Parliament, the other legislative body besides the EC. They can't introduce new legislation, but they can modify existing legislation; specifically, SKG is targeting the Digital Fairness Act.
People like to say the US is a corrupt cess pool, and they're right, but so is the rest of the world. EU isn't an exception when corporate profit are on the line.
It's not a big enough issue for the pols to come down on the side of the people. They know they won't be voted out on this one decision, so they came down on the side of the money.
On the bright side, there's not enough money in live service anymore, so plenty of companies are getting cold feet when it comes to making games that can be killed anyway. Yeah, that's a reach for a silver lining, but it's something. I'd like to believe that the action they say they're taking will result in real change, but it sure doesn't sound like it.
"They say that existing EU consumer law "already provides for important safeguards protecting the economic interests of consumers", and note that video game publishers have to inform about "the duration and the conditions for terminating the contract before the consumers signs up for the video game"."
Well that would be cool, but anything about the duration and conditions for terminating the contract i've ever read on boxes or terms of service is: " We can do whatever we like, whenever we like, just so we're clear' (im slightly paraphrasing). So it sound to me like the EC says: " Well these sellers said fuck you up front so they're immune to any responsibility". Cool, cool. I saw a digital fairness act, but maybe we can hang something up in the mandated warranty tree? So if a game shuts down in 6 months barring you from playing, you would be entitled to some form of restitution instead of hoping the dev has morals.
Still doesn't solve that corpo's have their fingers over the killbuttons on our cultural heritage existence, so, you know, there's a lot of work to do still.
As it is the tradition in the sector, I hope the industry will listen to player communities and agree on better sunsetting standards so communities can continue to meet and play together.
Especially the fucking gaming industry where the likes of EA, Ubisoft, and all the HUGE companies now owned by Microsoft have been shitting on consumers with absolutely staggering impunity for decades!
The European Comission being corrupt as fuck really doesn't help with growing anti-EU sentiments. This is why people lose faith in the EU.
Prosecute Ursula von der Leyen for treason and crimes against the European Union. Dissolve the European Comission and/or give more power to the European Parliament.
How are we supposed to be the leading democracy if only the arbitrarily-appointed commissioners can introduce new legislation?
How is it a functional democracy if one of the most successful citizens' initiative is essentially being ignored, because it doesn't align with corporate interests?
President von der Leyen, along with the rest of the European Comission, are digging the entire European Union's grave. And they're doing a very good job, unfortunately.
Never had any faith in them anyway, just empty old suits that should have retired 20 years ago and now just want to get a bit more money before they keel over.
Best solution is to just stop buying games and go back to piracy, only way to keep your games these days.
The reason these games can be destroyed is that even piracy is often impossible. The ones you're pirating are more often than not going to be the ones that were never at risk of being targeted by this initiative.
Then start considering buying games that you can also get through piracy, as long as you keep giving them money and allowing them control nothing will change.
Realistically though, it can be quite a complicated situation. One I've written about numerous times before. Servers behind the scenes can be incredibly complex, especially when it comes to games that have DLC and micro-transactions. And then you have to add to that the licensing on music and other things. Plus various other things I'm not thinking of right now
Holy lazy writing Batman!
As if this all wasn't adressed by SKG 100 times before. Did the author never hear about SKG before writing this article?
list everyone who voted for rejection, dig up what else they have been up to, make sure people know and will not forget. no peace for these assholes. even if it doesnt do anything, just having them think it might do something is enough.
these people have prevented other laws too or voted for shitty ones. And, if naming and shaming them isnt part of democracy then we have no democracy at all as then actions can't have consequences.
top 50 comments