Ah, the familiar sting of a beloved game becoming as unplayable as a brick with a screen. Whether it's the sudden shutdown of a centralized server or the mysterious disappearance of a digital-only classic from storefronts, gamers know the pain all too well. But is there anything to be done about this digital graveyard?

To tackle this existential question, Ars Technica is hosting a live conversation with Ross Scott, the mastermind behind the Stop Killing Games campaign, on August 11 at 2:30 pm ET. As Ars' Senior Gaming Editor, I've chronicled the untimely demises of countless once-thriving virtual worlds, so this is personal. You can watch the whole spectacle live on YouTube when the time comes.

Scott launched the Stop Killing Games movement in 2024 after Ubisoft pulled the plug on The Crew's servers, leaving players stranded in a digital ghost town. Since then, he's rallied millions of gamers to sign government petitions demanding legislative action for perpetual access to purchased games - either through continued server support or by letting players run their own. The movement has already sparked an official parliamentary debate and a response from the European Commission, plus proposed legislation winding its way through the California legislature.

During the chat, I'll grill Scott on how the movement coalesced, what's fueling gamers' sudden passion for preservation, and whether this problem can truly be fixed with laws. We'll also dive into how Sony's recent decision to stop selling PlayStation discs is pouring gasoline on the debate over long-term game access.

So mark your calendars, set your alarms, and join us for what promises to be a spirited - and possibly slightly sarcastic - discussion about the future of gaming.