The Labour government has broken its silence and issued an official response to a major petition, signed by nearly 190,000 people, demanding action to stop video game publishers from permanently disabling games that customers have already bought.
What the Petition Demands
The petition, which garnered 189,887 signatures, calls for a fundamental change in consumer law. It urges the government to make it illegal for publishers to "irrevocably disable" video games and related content after they have been sold. Supporters argue this practice is a form of planned obsolescence, leaving consumers without recourse to retain or repair products they own.
"We see this as a form of planned obsolescence, as customers can be deprived of their purchase," the petition states. "We think this practice is hostile to consumers, entirely preventable, and have concerns existing laws do not address the problem."
The Government's Stance
In its reply, the government made its position clear: "There are no plans to amend UK consumer law on disabling video games." While the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) recognises the concerns raised by gamers, it stated that decision-making ultimately rests with the companies, who must balance commercial factors like the high cost of maintaining older servers for games with declining users.
The response emphasised that video game sellers must still comply with existing consumer protections, primarily the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.
What Your Existing Consumer Rights Are
Despite the rejection of new legislation, the government outlined the protections already in place for buyers of digital content. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, digital content, including video games, must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose, and as described.
If a game does not meet these standards, consumers are entitled to a repair, replacement, or a full refund. The government also highlighted that traders must provide clear information. If a game's limited lifespan is not made clear at the point of sale, publishers could be in breach of the law against misleading omissions.
However, the government was clear that there is no legal requirement for companies to support older versions of their software indefinitely.
