The Stop Killing Games campaign has just crossed a major milestone—1 million signatures and counting. But instead of celebration across the board, it’s also stirred controversy and backlash. Indie dev and streamer Pirate Software, also known as Thor, has responded after becoming a lightning rod for outrage from supporters of the movement.
The Petition That Shook the Industry
Stop Killing Games (SGF) started as a movement urging game publishers to maintain access to digital games, even after they lose official support. The argument? Players who paid for a game should be able to access it permanently. As of now, the petition has drawn over 1.15 million signatures.
Pirate Software Pushes Back
Pirate Software, who previously criticized the campaign for being too “vague,” has found himself at the center of the storm. In a July 4 Twitch stream, Thor revealed the extreme fallout following his comments. “I got swatted on Tuesday,” he said.He described receiving tens of thousands of death threats—not just toward him, but also directed at his moderation team. Constant phone calls, harassment, and doxxing followed.
“Corporate Plant,” “Nepobaby,” and Other Attacks
Thor described the level of online harassment as relentless. According to him, users attacked his life’s work and claimed he never held the jobs listed in his professional history, even in the face of proof.He added that he’d been called everything from “corporate plant” to “napobaby,” expressing visible frustration at how the campaign’s success had turned into personal vendettas against him.
Fallout From Offbrand Games
The backlash wasn’t limited to just words. On July 3, Thor announced on X (formerly Twitter) that he had stepped away from Offbrand Games, a studio founded by fellow creator Ludwig. He said supporters of the campaign began attacking all titles published by the studio simply due to his involvement, calling the behavior “unhinged.”
A Final Word to SGF
Though clearly embattled, Thor didn’t wish failure on the movement itself. Instead, he left viewers with a sharp message:
- “I hope that your initiative [SGF] gets everything that you asked for, but nothing you wanted.”
It’s a statement layered in bitterness—possibly a wish for the movement to succeed on paper but fail in its spirit.
Where This Leaves the Industry
As SGF’s petition grows, the debate over digital ownership is louder than ever. But Thor’s experience raises a tough question: Can disagreement survive in online spaces without turning into personal destruction?While Stop Killing Games may want to protect digital access, this chapter highlights another issue that needs saving—civil discourse.