What is the Stop Killing Games movement? Viral clash between Accursed Farms and Pirate Software explained
At the heart of a growing online movement,
Stop Killing Games
calls out developers for pulling the plug on live-service games too early. Created by YouTuber Ross Scott (Accursed Farms), it quickly gained support until Twitch streamer and indie dev
Pirate Software
pushed back.
What started as a campaign for game preservation has now spiraled into a full-blown creator feud. Here's what's going on.
What is Stop Killing Games?
Launched in April 2024 by Ross Scott, the
Stop Killing Games
movement is all about preserving access to online games, especially after official support ends.
Ross argues that when studios make a game dependent on servers and later shut them down, they're essentially selling something with an expiration date… without telling players.
It's 'planned obsolescence,' he says — unfair to buyers and harmful to gaming history.
The movement has gained real-world traction, too, with petitions in Europe aiming to legally require publishers to offer
offline versions
or alternatives when live-service titles go dark.
Stop Killing Games
Pirate Software Calls It Out
Not everyone agreed with Ross's plan, most notably, Pirate Software (real name Jason Thor Hall). In a widely shared YouTube video, Pirate Software called the movement
vague
,
unrealistic
, and even
dangerous
to game devs.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
We Can't Believe She Wore That To The Red Carpet
Golfhooked
Read More
Undo
He argued that:
The initiative is too broad and lacks clear solutions.
It creates legal and technical burdens that most indie studios can't afford.
It could hurt the industry by setting unrealistic expectations for all online games.
Pirate also criticized Ross's suggestion to use this as a political tool, claiming it misdirects lawmakers from more urgent tech issues.
The end of Stop Killing Games
Accursed Farms Responds
Ross didn't let that slide. He later addressed Pirate's critiques in an interview and a dedicated FAQ video, claiming Pirate had
misrepresented
the campaign's goals.
According to Ross:
The initiative isn't about keeping every live-service game alive forever.
It's about offering
basic access
to purchased games, even post-shutdown.
Pirate's comments hurt momentum during a crucial phase.
'It's unfortunate. I offered to talk with him about it.' Ross said. 'If you hate the initiative, you hate it, but at least hate it for what it is.'
Signature Struggles & Blame Game
As the deadline for the European Citizens' Initiative approached, only 47% of the required signatures had been collected. Ross claimed that Pirate Software's viral criticism stalled the campaign's momentum. He even uploaded a video on June 23, 2025, accusing Hall of 'lying' and making it harder for the petition to succeed.
He said that:
'This put me in a no-win scenario, too, because if I ignored it, then a lot of people would get misinformed about the campaign, and if I did a response video, it would look like drama-farming.'
Stop Killing Games...
Who Supports the Movement?
Despite the clash,
Stop Killing Games
still has powerful supporters. Big-name creators like MoistCritikal and SomeOrdinaryGamers have publicly backed Ross. Their argument? Preserving games isn't just nostalgic — it's about protecting a digital legacy.
As SomeOrdinaryGamers put it:
'If we don't fight for this now, our gaming history might just vanish.'
Whether you're Team Ross or Team Pirate, one thing's clear — this debate hits deeper than just two creators. It's about what we, as players,
own
when we buy a game… and what happens when that access disappears.
Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Tom Holland takes cooking lessons from brother Sam to impress fiancée Zendaya
\When fiancée Zendaya is on set, Tom Holland alternates in the kitchen. To keep him from crashing and burning while attempting to put dinner on the table, his brother, Sam Holland, who is also a chef, has been giving him recipes. People report that 25-year-old Sam recently published his new cookbook, Kitchen Kickstart. Sam told The Times that while Zendaya was filming in Boston, he made sure his famous sister had some simple meals prepared. He took special care with the vegetarian options, knowing Zendaya follows a plant-based diet, and sent the recipes to Tom, who was handling dinner duties during her shoot. Sam said Tom went through each recipe and enjoyed them thoroughly. The culinary expertise of the Holland brothers Sam joked that even his own family can manage his cooking. He noted that Tom, his twin Harry, 26, and their younger brother Paddy, 20, are likely all just beginner-level cooks. Tom, however, isn't willing to give up the kitchen himself. On the Dish podcast with Nick Grimshaw and Angela Hartnett last December, he shared that he enjoys cooking and has been exploring more vegetarian dishes, partly because his girlfriend follows a vegetarian diet. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Prestige White Meadows: Sky Villas in Whitefield Prestige White Meadows Learn More Undo While some meals did well, others didn't Tom explained that while Zendaya was working in Boston, he had been cooking most of the time. Not all of the meals were masterpieces. 'They haven't been great. There have been a few like, "Let's just order in," he acknowledged. He clarified, however, that there are others who are capable of handling dinner duty. He described Zendaya's spicy vodka fusilli thingamajiggy as "delicious" and stated, "I actually love it." Despite not having a professional kitchen, the couple, who became engaged late last year, appears to have everything covered with Zendaya's pasta, Tom's attempts at vegetarian dishes, and Sam's detailed instructions. "Get the latest updates on Times of India, including reviews of the movie Coolie and War 2 ."
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Actor Jayaram, son Kalidas Jayaram reunite after 22 years for film 'Ashakal Aayiram'; shooting begins
Actor Jayaram, son Kalidas Jayaram reunite after 22 years for film 'Ashakal Aayiram'; shooting begins Actor Jayaram and his son Kalidas Jayaram are set to reunite after 22 years for the film titled 'Ashakal Aayiram'. The puja ceremony of the film was held on Monday. Jayaram and Kalidas starred together in the movie 'Ente Veedu Appuvinteyum' in 2003. Kalidas was a child artist in the film and won the National Film Award for Best Child Artist for his performance in the movie. The film is directed by G Prajith and is jointly written by Araving Rajendran and Jude Anthany Joseph . The movie is produced by Directed by G Prajith, written by Aravind Rajendran and Jude Anthany Joseph, with editing by Shefeeque V.B. and backing from Gokulam Cinemas. Jude also joins as the film's creative director. The movie is produced by Gokulam Gopalan under the banner of Sree Gokulam Movies. The puja ceremony was held on August 19. It was attended by the lead cast, director and the crew of the film. Jayaram's daughter, Malavika Jayaram, also attended the puja ceremony of the movie. Taking to their Instagram handle, Sreegokulam Movies shared the photos from the ceremony, signifying the start of the shoot of 'Ashakal Aayiram'. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The fans have been eagerly awaiting the reunion of Jayaram and his son Kalidas, who starred in their superhit movie 'Ente Veedu Appuvinteyum' in 2003. It was directed by Sibi Malayil and was produced by Prem Prakash. Apart from the father-son duo, the movie starred Jyothirmayi in the lead roles along with Kalashala Babu, Nedumudi Venu, Siddique, Salim Kumar, Vishnu Unnikrishnan , Shammi Thilakan, Sanusha, and K. P. A. C. Lalitha in supporting roles. The makers have not revealed the release date of the film 'Ashakal Aayiram' yet. "Get the latest updates on Times of India, including reviews of the movie Coolie and War 2 ."
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Bigg Boss Malayalam 7: Sarika's mock interview upsets Kalabhavan Sariga; Duo reconciles with heartfelt conversation
Bigg Boss Malayalam 7 witnessed a playful task turn sour when Sarika's mock interview with Sariga led to hurt feelings due to insinuations about her character. Sariga expressed her disappointment, prompting Sarika to offer a sincere apology, even addressing Sariga's husband through the camera to clarify her intentions were purely for entertainment. Bigg Boss Malayalam 7 continues to strike a balance between high-voltage drama and genuine emotional moments. In a recent episode, a playful task took an unexpected emotional turn when Sarika 's mock interview with fellow contestant Sariga left the latter deeply hurt. However, what followed was a touching reconciliation that reminded viewers of the show's human side. As part of a light-hearted segment inside the house, Sarika assumed the role of the bold, no-holds-barred interviewer and conducted a pretend post-Bigg Boss interview with Sariga. Known for her witty and often controversial style, Sarika asked pointed and exaggerated questions that she thought would be taken in jest. However, one particular comment — suggesting that Sariga was being 'flirty' with male contestants — did not sit well with her. Though other housemates laughed off the segment as harmless fun, Sariga was visibly upset and later confided in Akbar and Binny that the remarks had deeply hurt her. She expressed that, in her 20-year career, she had never been subjected to such personal insinuations, and was especially concerned about how such comments might impact her family's perception outside the house. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Neuropathy is not from Low Vitamin B. Meet the Real Enemy of Neuropathy (Stop Doing This) FootRenew Learn More Undo Taking the mature route, Sariga later approached Sarika for a direct conversation. She calmly but firmly expressed her disappointment, especially over the insinuation about her character. Sarika, who initially defended the act as part of a humorous task, soon realised the emotional weight her words had carried and offered a sincere apology. In a private conversation, Sarika even addressed Sariga's husband directly through the camera. 'Everything I said during the mock interview was just for fun. Sariga is a gem of a person. As someone who hasn't had a happy married life, I know how important it is to have a good family. You're lucky to have her,' Sarika said emotionally. The conversation ended with the two hugging it out, bringing a moment of warmth and emotional healing into the often volatile Bigg Boss house.
