Petitions/Prohibit publishers irrevocably disabling video games they have already sold
StatusClosed
Opened14 Jan 2025
Closes14 Jul 2025
Government responseResponded
Parliamentary debateDebated · 4 Nov 2025
Milestones 10,000 100,000

The government should update consumer law to prohibit publishers from disabling video games (and related game assets / features) they have already sold without recourse for customers to retain or repair them. We seek this as a statutory consumer right.

Most video games sold can work indefinitely, but some have design elements that render the product non-functional at a time which the publisher controls, with no date provided at sale. We see this as a form of planned obsolescence, as customers can be deprived of their purchase and cannot retain or repair the game. We think this practice is hostile to consumers, entirely preventable, and have concerns existing laws do not address the problem. Thus, we believe government intervention is needed.

189,887Total signatures
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Government response

There are no plans to amend UK consumer law on disabling video games. Those selling games must comply with existing requirements in consumer law and we will continue to monitor this issue.

Constituency engagement ranking

Chris Law
1Chris Law MP
Dundee Central
676
Daniel Zeichner
2Daniel Zeichner MP
Cambridge
551
Luke Pollard
3Luke Pollard MP
Plymouth Sutton and Devonport
538
Tracy Gilbert
4Tracy Gilbert MP
Edinburgh North and Leith
531
Rebecca Long Bailey
5Rebecca Long Bailey MP
Salford
523
Clive Lewis
6Clive Lewis MP
Norwich South
520
Chris Murray
7Chris Murray MP
Edinburgh East and Musselburgh
513
Rachel Blake
8Rachel Blake MP
Cities of London and Westminster
505
Mr Hamish Falconer
9Mr Hamish Falconer MP
Lincoln
492
Siân Berry
10Siân Berry MP
Brighton Pavilion
481
Prohibit publishers irrevocably disabling video games they have already sold — Petitions