Barely a year ago, Sony made the surprising decision to halt operations for its game, Concord, and issue refunds just two weeks after its release, as it simply couldn’t attract a player base. This incident is now serving as a key example in the United Kingdom’s House of Lords, where members are debating the necessity for stronger consumer protections for gamers.
Reports indicate that a Member of Parliament specifically referenced Concord’s rapid failure while advocating for the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024. The MP stressed that “where publishers fail to make the lifespan of a game clear at the point of sale, they must be held accountable.” This new legislation, already in effect, aims to ensure that companies provide “clear, timely, and accurate information to consumers, including the longevity and functionality of digital products.”
The discussion also touched upon the ‘Stop Killing Games’ movement, which gained significant traction after Ubisoft announced that The Crew would be taken offline, leading to considerable backlash and even legal action from upset fans. MP Ben Goldsborough, a leading voice in the debate, articulated the deep connection players have with their games, stating, “Gamers still feel the deep sense of personal possession, because they invest more than money. They invest time, effort, imagination, and friendship. When a game shuts down without notice, that investment is lost … This is about fairness, responsibility, creativity, and protecting a cultural legacy … of which the United Kingdom should be proud.”
Despite the passionate arguments, a research briefing from the House of Commons concluded with a rather disheartening note: there are “no plans to amend existing consumer law on disabling video games.” Instead, the briefing pointed to established consumer laws like the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and the Digital Markets Competition and Consumers Act 2024 as sufficient frameworks for gamer protection.