Latest news with #KillingGames
Time of India
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
How is Ubisoft's EULA clause contradicting the 'Stop Killing Games' campaign?
Image via Ubisoft. The whole gaming world right now is divided into two parts following the feud regarding the 'Stop Killing Games' campaign. This is actually a consumer driven movement against the developers who delist their games out of nowhere. This actually affects a whole bunch of playerbase, who actually bought the game with real-money, but won't ever be able to play it as the game's server was actually made offline, with stopping all services. However, no one would have thought one of the biggest gaming companies would be against this movement. Ubisoft's EULA clause is why the 'Stop Killing Games' campaign exists The Ubisoft EULA is against the 'Stop Killing Games' campaign. | Image via Stop Killing Games. Amidst the clash between the 'Stop Killing Games' campaign and Pirate Software , fans have now found out Ubisoft is actually against the former. It has been discovered in Ubisoft's licence agreement that there is a claw which orders the owners to destroy the game if the developer chooses to end the service of that particular game. This clause in Ubisoft's end user license agreement (EULA) clearly states players are obliged to immediately uninstall the game and delete all the copies of the product which is in their possession if the specific game is being delisted. And this exact clause has stirred a huge controversy amidst the heat of the 'Stop Killing Games' campaign. This clause is exactly what the campaign is fighting against. SKG is fighting for the online preservation of the multiplayers games which suddenly stops its services, even after people purchase these games. The Ubisoft EULA is absolutely opposite to this, making people mandatory to dispose of all the possessions which they actually bought. Now the irony here is that Accursed Farms aka Ross Scott started this campaign after Ubisoft suddenly delisted The Crew in 2024. So, Ubisoft was the real reason behind this petition and now might be becoming the biggest reason people sign this petition, more and more. However, it's disappointing to note that such clauses aren't restricted to EULAs of Ubisoft only. It has been found out that EULAs of several games like Oblivion Remastered, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Metaphor: ReFantazio, and many more contain that same clause, which prompts their users to destroy the ownerships of the games, if they ever get delisted by the developers. Read More: Pirate Software claims being made 'the villain' boosted petition's momentum as Stop Killing Games hits 1 Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
"This kind of behavior Is unhinged": Pirate Software reacts to online criticism amid recent controversy
Image via: Twitch/Pirate Software Jason Hall , aka 'Thor,' the face of Pirate Software, has left Offbrand Games amid an absurd storm of internet criticism and review bombings precipitated by the stand he took against the growing Stop Killing Games (SKG) movement. This exit of Hall shows how a campaign originally aimed at preservation has moved into further encompassing the bigger option of holding a person accountable versus online outrage and parallel blurred lines of guilt by association. Controversy Clouds Game for the Wrong Reasons Rivals of Aether II was not under the spotlight as it was poorly launched or had badly designed gameplay;-it was a philosophical disagreement. On June 27, 2025, Ludwig Ahgren, Offbrand Games co-founder and huge stream personality, addressed the eerie infestation of negative reviews on the game's Steam page and lashing in frustration: 'Such a bummer Rivals 2 is getting any s**t for this... People are now review bombing the game because Pirate Software, who has no personal stake in the game, works at Offbrand Games? 😔 Feels wrong.' Although Hall had nothing to do with making the game, the mere association of his vocal presence with Offbrand's publishing label made Rivals 2 inadvertently borne of the impact of review bombings. Pirate Software Responds to the Backlash Amid the noise, Hall made his position clear, he would be stepping away from the company to stop further harm to its portfolio: 'I am no longer working at @offbrand_games. People were attacking all of the games we were publishing and trying to mass review bomb them. You can dislike the things I say, but this kind of behavior is unhinged.' He added that while he learned a lot and cherished his time at the studio, he hoped OffBrand could continue without being distracted by his presence. What's Behind the Movement? At the eye of the controversy lies the Stop Killing Games campaign, initiated by Ross Scott of Accursed Farms. The movement is for digital game preservation, resisting companies that deactivate or remove any sort of access to games that consumers have paid for. Ubisoft's attempt to kill The Crew in late 2023, in spite of its offline side became the prime flashpoint. PirateSoftware Situation The Fallout of Online Movements This issue has stirred the growing tension within the community of players, when advocacy hits the limits of absolutism, is there room left for that said character to disagree? Can an individual, in the political sense, say that he supports the kernel idea on which the movement is based wherein he does not support every method that the movement employs? That answer has become ambiguous for now. Pirate Software DESTROYED By Ridiculous "Stop Killing Games" Take Pirate Software's escapade out of Offbrand Games represents more than just a personnel change: it is an expression of the conflict between digital activism and personal branding on the modern internet. Though the SKG movement is gaining some traction, the internal rifts and external confrontation act as a reminder: solidarity can be so thin in the internet age if the internet decides that there is but one proper way to save games. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here . Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Time of India
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
What Is Going on with Pirate Software and Stop Killing Games?
Image via: Twitch/Pirate Software The world of digital games is witnessing a public main stage rift and dilemma between two very powerful personalities on either side of this ideological battle: Ross Scott and Thor of Pirate Software, a game developer and Twitch streamer known for his caustic persona. What began as a relatively tight campaign focused on consumer rights within the digital games industry began to get shoved into an uncomfortable philosophical spat about what game preservation is and who has the right to call themselves a game preserver. The Purpose Underlying Stop Killing Games The Stop Killing Games campaign grew from a growing awareness, prompted by popular YouTuber Ross Scott's initiative of the same name, that so many digital games disappear forever when their servers go offline. Sparked in part by Ubisoft's notorious takedown of The Crew in December 2023, a title that included single-player content but still necessitated an online connection, SKG maintains that consumers are being sold games with undisclosed use-by dates. Scott likens the practice to 'planned obsolescence' and considers it doubly unethical and historically harmful. His campaign is now seeking legal support through a European Citizens' Initiative, lobbying for legislation that would force publishers to ensure games are left in a playable condition, even after online services are abandoned. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Perdagangkan CFD Emas dengan Broker Tepercaya IC Markets Mendaftar Undo They might just stop killing games.. Pirate Software Takes a Stand Not everyone is on board with Scott's radical tack. Thor from Pirate Software, famous for his no-bullshit attitude and indie developer roots, has been one of the most vocal critics of the SKG movement since it went public in August 2024. In his opinion, SKG's proposals go too wide and are unrealistic, possibly violating developers' self-determination and misinterpreting the realities of game development. In an official YouTube response video published June 23, 2025, Scott fired back at Pirate Software's criticism, calling Thor an agent of misinformation, especially on the point about SKG turning their online multiplayer games into offline single-player ports. Doubling Down, Drawing Lines In the face of this uproar, it appears Thor didn't retract his comments. On June 26th, 2025, Pirate Software released a sequel going further criticizing SKG's campaign and doubling down on this criticism, Ministry defending his position that SKG's campaign is misrepresentative and would likely produce negative impacts on smaller developers who don't have the resources to keep server infrastructure running forever. The conflict reveals a larger rift. Though SKG supports consumer rights and long-term game preservation, the tasks dump a lot of new responsibility on creators, a detail critics like Thor are quick to point out. This is mostly in an era now ruled by digital distribution and live-service models. Stop Killing Games What's at Stake At the center of this heated debate lies the delicate question: Should games be preserved like books and films, or are they intrinsically transient? Now that governments are considering imposing some legal duties on publishers, how this debate plays out could almost decide the future of ownership and preservation of games-the world increasingly turning digital. For now, Stop Killing Games and Pirate Software are the two drastically different ideals for the future of gaming, and all gamers around the world are observing! Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
