Ubisoft CEO addresses game preservation concerns with industry-wide perspective and player warnings
The Shareholder Meeting Revelation
During Ubisoft’s 2025 shareholder gathering on July 10, Chief Executive Officer Yves Guillemot directly confronted questions about the expanding Stop Killing Games movement, providing rare corporate insight into digital game preservation debates.
A shareholder participant specifically questioned Guillemot about Ubisoft’s position regarding the Stop Killing Games petition, highlighting The Crew’s removal from stores and subsequent server termination as a pivotal moment that energized the preservation initiative.
The inquiry extended to fundamental questions about digital ownership rights, asking what genuine “ownership” means when purchased games might become completely inaccessible in coming years. Guillemot recognized the validity of these concerns while emphasizing this represents a sector-wide dilemma affecting all major game publishers.
Ubisoft’s Service Realities
Guillemot explained that Ubisoft dedicates significant resources to maintaining game accessibility, noting the company implements “extensive support systems” and technical services to guarantee games remain operational around the clock. However, he clearly stated that such maintenance “cannot continue indefinitely” due to technical and economic constraints.
“This represents an ongoing challenge we continuously address,” Guillemot stated. “However, this predicament extends beyond our company alone. Every video game publisher encounters similar issues. While we deliver services, contractual agreements don’t guarantee permanence, and eventually services may need termination. No digital service lasts forever.”
The CEO emphasized that Ubisoft implements notification systems to alert consumers about potential service limitations. “Gamers and purchasers receive advance notice that games might eventually become unavailable,” he clarified. “We’re committed to optimizing experiences for our player community and customers.”
Guillemot concluded by describing the situation as a “complex industry-wide concern” and confirmed Ubisoft’s ongoing development of potential resolutions. For players concerned about preservation, understanding the technical lifecycle of online-dependent games becomes increasingly important as more titles transition to service-based models.
Understanding Stop Killing Games
It’s important to recognize that the Stop Killing Games movement primarily advocates for implementing offline functionality patches when companies terminate online services, enabling continued gameplay without active servers. The initiative doesn’t demand endless developer or publisher support but rather practical solutions for game preservation.
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Beyond The Crew, additional Ubisoft online-exclusive games like XDefiant and HyperScape have similarly become inaccessible following service discontinuation in 2022 and 2025 respectively. These examples highlight the vulnerability of games requiring constant online connectivity and the importance of preservation planning.
Practical Game Preservation Strategies
Currently, Stop Killing Games has exceeded 1.3 million supporter signatures and approaches its ultimate target of 1.4 million. On July 12, influential European politician Nicolae Ștefănuță publicly endorsed the campaign, indicating growing political awareness of digital preservation issues.
For gamers concerned about long-term access, several protective measures can help safeguard your digital investments. First, prioritize purchasing games with offline functionality or those that provide local save files. Second, research a game’s online requirements before purchase—if a title requires constant internet connectivity, understand this represents a temporary gaming experience. Third, support developers who implement preservation-friendly practices like offline modes or private server capabilities.
The gaming industry faces increasing pressure to address preservation as more titles transition to live-service models. While companies like Ubisoft provide warnings about potential service discontinuation, the conversation around consumer rights and digital ownership continues evolving. As regulatory bodies like the EU Commission and UK government engage with these issues, players may see increased transparency and preservation standards across the industry.
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