Latest news with #TheEndofStopKillingGames
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Pirate Software loses more than 100,000 YouTube subscribers after Stop Killing Games controversy
(Image via @PirateSoftware/YouTube) Popular game developer and YouTube creator Pirate Software has lost over 100,000 subscribers in just two weeks. The steep decline comes in the wake of growing outrage over his perceived opposition to the Stop Killing Games (SKG) movement, a campaign advocating against companies shutting down online games players have paid for. The Fallout Begins The sharp drop began in late June 2025. That's when Ross Scott, the creator of the Accursed Farms YouTube channel and founder of the SKG initiative, released a fiery video titled The End of Stop Killing Games . In it, he directly called out Pirate Software (real name: Jason Thor Hall) for misrepresenting the movement in an earlier 2023 video. Scott's message landed hard. His audience is passionate gamers who've rallied around the SKG cause and quickly mobilised. They felt Pirate had downplayed the campaign's core message: preserving digital game ownership and fighting corporate shutdowns of single-player games. The internet, as expected, responded swiftly. Subscriber Count Tanks According to data from Social Blade, Pirate Software's channel has shed over 110,000 subscribers between June 26 and July 9. The decline peaked on June 26, with a staggering 20,000 lost in a single day. And the numbers haven't stopped dipping since. While some creators bounce back from controversies, the pace and consistency of the losses suggest a deeper fracture between Pirate and his long-time followers. What Is 'Stop Killing Games'? SKG is a grassroots movement aimed at preserving video games in their original, playable forms, especially in light of publishers increasingly shutting down online servers or removing titles from digital storefronts. The movement recently gained huge momentum in the EU, where it crossed 1.2 million signatures on a formal citizens' initiative, enough to demand attention from lawmakers. Pirate's Response Adds Fuel During a July 4 Twitch stream, Hall addressed the backlash. His tone was defiant, even as he revealed he had been swatted and received death threats. 'I hope your initiative gets everything that you asked for, but nothing you wanted,' he said. This comment further inflamed tensions with the SKG community. Critics called his statement dismissive. Supporters of SKG saw it as a hostile rejection of a campaign that has garnered global support from preservationists, developers, and gamers alike. A Moment Bigger Than One Creator At the heart of the backlash isn't just a difference in opinion; it's a clash of values. The SKG movement has come to symbolise the right to access what you've paid for. Pirate Software's perceived dismissal of that ideal and of the campaign's legitimacy has struck a nerve. While Hall still commands a sizable audience, the trust has taken a serious hit. Whether he can rebuild from this or chooses to double down remains to be seen. One thing's clear: the digital preservation fight just got a lot louder. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Manika Batra's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 3. Watch Here!
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Pirate Software loses 100K+ YouTube subscribers amid Stop Killing Games backlash
YouTuber Pirate Software is facing massive subscriber losses following backlash over his stance on the Stop Killing Games (SKG) movement. In less than two weeks, the channel has lost more than 100,000 subscribers, according to analytics from Social Blade. The fallout began after Ross Scott, creator of the SKG initiative and the Accursed Farms YouTube channel, released a video titled The End of Stop Killing Games on June 23. In it, Scott accused Pirate Software—real name Jason Thor Hall—of misrepresenting the SKG movement's purpose in a 2023 video. The public response was swift and severe. Between June 26 and July 9, Pirate Software's channel dropped 110,000 subscribers, with a peak daily loss of 20,000 on June 26. The number grows to 120,000 when accounting for the full 30-day range. During a July 4 Twitch stream, Hall addressed the controversy, revealing he had received death threats and had been swatted. He commented on the campaign's success by saying, 'I hope your initiative gets everything that you asked for, but nothing you wanted.' The Stop Killing Games EU Citizens initiative, aimed at preserving digital game access, has since crossed 1.2 million signatures—far exceeding its original goal. With ongoing backlash and continued subscriber losses, Pirate Software's future on YouTube remains uncertain as the SKG movement gains further momentum.
