In a recent video Cr1TiKaL has called out Jason “PirateSoftware” Thor Hall for misrepresenting the goals of the “Stop Killing Games” initiative and refusing to acknowledge his mistakes. The controversy centers around a video PirateSoftware made about the consumer rights campaign that became the top search result for anyone looking up information about the movement.
The “Stop Killing Games” initiative, spearheaded by Ross Scott of Accursed Farms, aims to secure legal protections preventing publishers from making games permanently unplayable after end-of-life shutdowns. This has become a pressing issue with titles like Ubisoft’s The Crew, which became completely inaccessible after servers were taken offline despite consumers having paid for the game.
According to Cr1TiKaL, PirateSoftware fundamentally misunderstood or deliberately mischaracterized what the campaign is trying to achieve. Instead of accurately describing the initiative’s focus on reasonable consumer access after a game’s official support ends, PirateSoftware allegedly presented it as seeking extreme legal changes that weren’t actually part of the petition.
What makes the situation particularly problematic is PirateSoftware’s response when corrected. Ross Scott himself left a comment on PirateSoftware’s video clarifying the campaign’s actual goals, but these corrections were either ignored or deleted. Others who attempted to point out the inaccuracies claim they were blocked or banned from PirateSoftware’s channels.
“There’s a massive difference between ‘didn’t support a thing’ and ‘completely misrepresented a thing to a large audience, then constantly doubled down on being confidently incorrect,'” Cr1TiKaL stated in his video, highlighting the harm caused by the misinformation.
The petition specifically targets EU and UK lawmakers through official channels, seeking regulations that would require publishers to provide reasonable alternatives when shutting down games. These might include releasing server binaries, enabling offline modes, or allowing private servers, practical solutions that would preserve access for paying customers.
Cr1TiKaL revealed he spent two hours in direct conversation with PirateSoftware trying to clear things up privately. However, he described the discussion as “going nowhere,” with PirateSoftware refusing to take any accountability for his original video or its impact on public perception of the initiative.
The controversy has led to broader conversations about influencer responsibility, especially when their platform can seriously affect grassroots movements. PirateSoftware’s video, having dominated search results for “Stop Killing Games,” may have limited support for the petition at a critical time when signatures are needed to reach thresholds for legislative review.
This isn’t just about a disagreement between content creators. The “Stop Killing Games” petition campaigns are time-sensitive, requiring specific signature thresholds by set deadlines to prompt official response. By potentially steering supporters away with inaccurate information, PirateSoftware’s video could have tangible consequences for a movement focused on preserving consumer access to purchased digital content.
