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US Politics

New York congressman introduces bill requiring game ownership, not licenses

Power To The Players Act would force publishers to offer offline modes before server shutdowns

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time2 min
U.S. Representative Ritchie Torres of New York has introduced the Power To The Players Act, federal legislation that would require video game purchases to confer ownership rather than a revocable license. The bill directs the Federal Trade Commission to establish regulations ensuring consumers own their games and that online-only titles must provide an offline mode before their servers are shut down. The move follows growing backlash against publishers that deactivate games after discontinuing support.

The Power To The Players Act targets the industry practice of selling games as licenses that can be revoked. According to the bill's announcement, 'buying a video game would give the consumer ownership of the game rather than a license to play it.' Games with online functionality would also be required to offer an offline mode before their servers are shut down.

The legislation is the latest in a wave of consumer protection efforts. Pennsylvania state senator John Kane recently proposed the Protect Our Games Act, which would require publishers to provide an offline mode, community servers, or a 25 percent minimum refund when a game is decommissioned.

The push comes amid prominent examples of games becoming unplayable. Ubisoft's The Crew was shut down in 2024, rendering it inaccessible even to recent purchasers. Sports titles like NBA 2K25 are pulled from digital storefronts with servers retired two years after release, and Overwatch 2 replaced the original Overwatch entirely, eliminating the standalone game.

Publishers have defended the license model. In an ongoing class action lawsuit, Sony's lawyers argued that clicking the 'purchase' button would 'obviously not lead the consumer to think that they were acquiring a durable right to use the game instead of a revocable license.' The Stop Killing Games movement has rallied against such positions, demanding that publishers leave games functional after discontinuation through offline modes, peer-to-peer patching, or community server support.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • Could fundamentally change how games are sold, giving consumers permanent access to digital purchases
  • Responds to anger over games becoming unplayable after server shutdowns, a growing consumer issue
  • If passed, may force the industry to shift from the license model to true ownership, affecting pricing and distribution

Background

For years, video game publishers have sold games through licenses that can be revoked. High-profile cases like Ubisoft's The Crew (2024), which became unplayable after server closure, and the annual shutdown of sports game servers have fueled demands for change. The Stop Killing Games movement has campaigned for publishers to ensure games remain functional after support ends, pushing for offline modes or community server options.

Key Perspectives

Gamers and consumer advocates: Support the bill as necessary to protect consumers from losing access to purchased products. They argue that buying a game should mean permanent ownership, not a temporary license. Game publishers: Likely oppose the bill, arguing the license model is industry standard and allows them to control distribution, prevent piracy, and shut down older games without ongoing costs. Sony has argued in court that no reasonable consumer would believe they own a digitally purchased game. Critics: Could warn that the bill may lead to higher upfront costs, fewer online-only games, or that offline modes may be technically infeasible for server-dependent titles. Lawmakers: Represent constituents frustrated by game deactivation, pushing for consumer protection through state and federal legislation.

What to Watch

  • Progress of the Power To The Players Act through House committees
  • Response from the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) or major publishers
  • Parallel state-level efforts like Pennsylvania's Protect Our Games Act
  • Potential impact on game development budgets and release strategies for online-only titles

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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