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California Bill Could Save Your Digital Games
16 May
Summary
- A new bill aims to ensure players can access games after support ends.
- Publishers must give 60-day notice before shutting down game services.
- The law applies to new games released on or after January 1, 2027.
A significant legislative effort is underway in California to protect digital game ownership. The proposed "Protect Our Games Act" has advanced to a floor vote in the State Assembly. If enacted, it would mandate that game publishers provide at least 60 days' notice before discontinuing services essential for a digital game's ordinary use.
Publishers would then be required to offer players a full refund, a patch enabling offline play, or a version of the game that operates independently of the publisher's servers. This legislation targets live service games, where functionality often depends entirely on ongoing server support.
The bill, introduced by Assemblymember Chris Ward in February 2026, specifically exempts free-to-play and subscription-based games. Furthermore, its provisions will only apply to titles released on or after January 1, 2027.
Stop Killing Games, a preservation group, provided input on the bill's creation and is reportedly pleased with its progress through legislative committees. The bill now faces further deliberation in the California State Assembly and Senate before potentially becoming law.
