Killing Floor 2 has recently got into a bit of trouble with some fans due to a clause in its EULA that gives the developer the right to revoke a user’s license without prior notice.
The Killing Floor 2 EULA – just like many others found in modern games, has a section dedicated to cheating and abusive behaviour, and the consequences of such behaviour.
Section six, titled ‘Cheats, Cheating and Abusive Behaviors’ reads, “We also will not tolerate anyone using the game, or any servers or forums provided for the game, to be continually or repeatedly abusive to other players. This includes, but is not limited to, “griefing”, racist bigotry, sexism or any other forms of “cyber bullying”. We will also not tolerate anyone hosting servers for the game where such behaviours are continually or repeatedly allowed to take place.
“If we find you are a Cheater or Abusive, we will revoke your CD key and ban you from the KF2 servers and tell your mom! Your license will automatically terminate, without notice, and you will have no right to play KF2 or any KF2 Mods against other players or make any other use of KF2. End of story.”
The publication of this EULA lead to a few fans believing their ownership rights are at risk. Many took to the game’s Steam forums to voice their opinions, which resulted in Tripwire vice President Alan Wilson stepping in to clarify the developer’s position.
Wilson said that EULA was not hidden and was in fact available for all to read, written in a language that anyone can understand.
“Just about ALL the games you are buying on Steam and anywhere else are actually a license to use. Yes, that is likely to become an issue in the EU at some point. Someone much smarter than me (probably at Valve, cos they’re all smarter than me) will work out how to handle that. If you are twitchy, because you’ve read our EULA – try reading everyone else’s! There’s some real horrors out there,” he said.
“People are worried that we can ‘take your game away’. Well, yes, we can. We’ve sold around 10 million games over the last 10 years. We have, I believe, taken away games from about 2 people. One of those was later convicted as a hacker in court.”
Wilson added that the clause is put in place to deal with individuals who are “utterly out of control” that many people are complaining about them, and does not mean the team will be policing severs.
Killing Floor 2 is currently in Steam Early Access.
Thanks, PCGamer.
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