Just over a year ago, Sony took the drastic step of shutting down Concord and issuing refunds two weeks after its release because the game failed to find an audience. Now, Concord’s demise is being used as an example of why gamers need more consumer protections during a debate in the United Kingdom’s House of Lords.
As reported by Eurogamer, one MP specifically cited Concord’s quick demise while arguing in favor of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024.
“I know the honorable members will agree that where publishers fail to make the life span of a game clear at the point of sale, they must be held accountable. That’s why I welcome the strengthened consumer protections, including the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, which came into force earlier this year. This legislation rightly requires traders to provide clear, timely, and accurate information to consumers, including the longevity and functionality of digital products.”
When Ubisoft announced that The Crew was being taken offline, it led to the rise of the Stop Killing Games movement, as well as a lawsuit from angry fans. MP Ben Goldsborough addressed some of the Stop Killing Games movement’s goals while leading the debate on the issue.
“Gamers still feel the deep sense of personal possession, because they invest more than money,” said Goldsborough. “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.”
The House of Commons has posted its research briefing on the issue, but in a discouraging note, the briefing ends with a note that there are “no plans to amend existing consumer law on disabling video games.” Instead, it cites established consumer laws including the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and Digital Markets Competition and Consumers Act 2024 as the existing protections for gamers.
