California Advances Bill Mandating Offline Patches or Refunds for Shut Down Games
California’s “Protect Our Games Act” has advanced in the State Assembly, requiring digital game publishers to provide either full refunds or offline-compatible patches when ceasing online support. Effective for titles sold from 2027, the bill mandates a 60-day notice before shutdowns and excludes free-to-play games. Supported by the “Stop Killing Games” movement, the legislation aims to preserve consumer access to purchased content. However, the Entertainment Software Association opposes it, citing legal and technical hurdles regarding third-party licenses. The bill now faces further legislative votes, potentially setting a significant precedent for digital ownership rights.
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California's Protect Our Games Act Advances to Preserve Online Titles
California’s proposed “Protect Our Games Act” has successfully cleared a significant legislative hurdle, marking progress in the effort to prevent publishers from permanently disabling online video games after server shutdowns. If enacted in its current form, the bill would mandate that publishers ensure continued playability for paid games released after January 1, 2027, once official support ends. Compliance options include maintaining servers, providing offline patches, releasing standalone versions, or issuing refunds to consumers. Free-to-play and subscription-only titles are exempt from these requirements. The legislation gains momentum from the “Stop Killing Games” movement, which rallied following Ubisoft’s 2024 shutdown of The Crew, an incident that rendered purchased copies inaccessible. While consumer advocates argue this protects digital ownership rights, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) opposes the bill, claiming it relies on a false premise of ownership and imposes unrealistic technical and financial burdens on developers. This development highlights growing tension between gamers seeking permanent access to purchased digital products and industry practices treating online games as temporary services.
Digital TrendsCalifornia Lawmakers Consider Bill to Preserve Online Game Access
California legislators are reviewing the "Protect Our Games Act," a proposed bill aimed at ensuring continued access to online video games even after developers cease official support. This legislation aligns with the global "Stop Killing Games" movement, which argues that deliberately rendering digital games unplayable constitutes the destruction of cultural heritage. If enacted, the law would mandate that game publishers and digital operators provide a 60-day advance notice before shutting down essential services. Furthermore, companies would be required to compensate consumers with either a full refund or a software patch that maintains some level of gameplay functionality. The regulations would specifically apply to game titles released on or after January 1, 2027, exempting existing titles. This legislative effort highlights the growing consumer debate over digital ownership rights, challenging the industry's shift toward treating games as finite services rather than permanent products. The movement has gained significant traction, evidenced by active online communities and broader discussions on digital media preservation.
MashableCalifornia Bill AB-1921 Would Mandate Game Publishers Keep Titles Online or Refund Buyers
California lawmakers have introduced Assembly Bill AB-1921, legislation designed to protect consumers who purchase digital video games that rely on online servers. If enacted, the bill would require publishers to provide sixty days' notice before discontinuing support for a game's online services. Furthermore, publishers must either release a version of the game that functions independently of their servers, such as allowing private server hosting, or issue full refunds to all purchasers. The law includes exemptions for entirely free games and those relying solely on subscription models. It would apply only to games sold in California on or after January 1, 2027. This legislative effort aligns with the growing 'Stop Killing Games' movement, which gained momentum after high-profile shutdowns like Ubisoft's The Crew and EA's Anthem. While consumer advocates and prominent industry figures support the measure, the Entertainment Software Association opposes it, arguing that maintaining legacy infrastructure places an impossible burden on publishers. The bill currently awaits a vote in the California State Assembly.
PCMag.com - Technology Product Reviews, News, Prices & TipsCalifornia Lawmakers Advance Bill to Preserve Access to Online Games
California lawmakers are advancing the "Protect Our Games Act," a bill designed to ensure players retain access to online games even after publishers cease active support. The legislation, which has cleared key committees in the State Assembly, requires digital game operators to provide at least 60 days' notice before shutting down essential services. Publishers must then offer either a full refund, a software patch enabling offline play, or a version of the game that functions independently of operator-controlled servers. The law applies only to paid titles released on or after January 1, 2027, excluding free-to-play and subscription-only games. The bill was developed with advice from Stop Killing Games, a preservation group formed in response to incidents like Ubisoft removing "The Crew" from player libraries. While the Entertainment Software Association has not yet commented, the bill's progress marks a significant step toward addressing modern concerns about digital ownership. If passed by both the Assembly and Senate, it would set a precedent for consumer rights in the gaming industry, potentially influencing similar regulations in the EU and UK.
Engadget - Technology News & Expert ReviewsCalifornia Lawmakers Advance Bill to Preserve Access to Online Games
California lawmakers are advancing the "Protect Our Games Act," a bill designed to ensure players retain access to online games even after publishers cease server support. The legislation, which has cleared key committees in the State Assembly, requires digital game operators to provide at least 60 days' notice before shutting down essential services. Publishers must then offer either a full refund, a software patch enabling offline play, or a version of the game independent of operator-controlled servers. The law would apply only to paid titles released on or after January 1, 2027, excluding free-to-play and subscription-only games. The bill was developed with advice from Stop Killing Games, a preservation group formed in response to incidents like Ubisoft removing The Crew from player libraries. While the Entertainment Software Association has not yet commented, the bill marks significant progress for consumer rights in digital ownership. If passed by both the Assembly and Senate, it could set a precedent for how live-service games are managed post-support, addressing growing concerns that consumers do not truly own digitally dependent products.
Engadget - Technology News & Expert ReviewsCalifornia Bill to Protect Online Game Access Advances in Legislature
A California bill aimed at preserving access to online video games has advanced out of the State Assembly's appropriations committee, setting the stage for a full floor vote. The legislation, known as the Protect Our Games Act, is supported by the grassroots movement Stop Killing Games but faces strong opposition from the Entertainment Software Association (ESA). If enacted, the law would require digital game publishers to either provide full refunds or release an updated version of a game that functions independently of operator-controlled servers when they cease support. Publishers would also need to give players 60 days' notice before shutting down essential services. The bill applies to games sold in California on or after January 1, 2027, excluding free-to-play titles and subscription-only games. Proponents argue that consumers should not lose access to purchased products without recourse, while the ESA contends that gamers license rather than own software. The industry group warns that indefinite playability requirements could create legal and technical impossibilities regarding third-party licenses for music and intellectual property.
SlashdotCalifornia Bill Requiring Offline Patches or Refunds for Shut Down Online Games Advances
A significant piece of legislation aimed at preserving access to online video games has advanced in the California State Assembly. The Protect Our Games Act, which passed the Appropriations Committee with an 11-2 vote, mandates that digital game publishers provide either a full refund or an updated version of the game that functions independently of central servers when they cease support. This ensures players retain access to purchased content even after official services end. The bill also requires a 60-day notice before shutting down essential services. It applies to games sold in California from January 1, 2027, excluding free-to-play titles and subscription-only games. The movement is driven by the grassroots group Stop Killing Games, formed after high-profile shutdowns like Ubisoft’s The Crew. Conversely, the Entertainment Software Association opposes the bill, arguing it misrepresents software licensing as ownership and creates impossible legal hurdles regarding third-party IP and music licenses. The bill now faces votes in the full Assembly and Senate before potentially reaching Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk, marking a major legislative test for digital consumer rights in the gaming industry.
Ars Technica - All contentCalifornia Bill Requiring Offline Patches or Refunds for Shut Down Online Games Advances
A significant piece of legislation aimed at preserving access to online video games has advanced in California. The Protect Our Games Act, which passed the State Assembly’s appropriations committee with an 11-2 vote, mandates that digital game publishers provide either a full refund or an updated version of the game that allows for independent play after server shutdowns. This requirement applies to games sold in California on or after January 1, 2027, excluding free-to-play titles and subscription-only services. Publishers must also notify players 60 days before ceasing essential services. The bill is heavily supported by the grassroots movement Stop Killing Games, formed after high-profile shutdowns like Ubisoft’s The Crew, which argues consumers should retain access to purchased products. Conversely, the Entertainment Software Association opposes the measure, stating that consumers license rather than own games and that indefinite playability imposes impossible legal and technical burdens regarding third-party IP licenses. The bill now faces further votes in the full Assembly and Senate before potentially reaching Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk, marking a major legislative milestone for digital ownership rights advocates.
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