California advances bill to mandate offline access for digital games

California lawmakers are advancing the "Protect Our Games Act," legislation designed to preserve consumer access to digital games once online services are discontinued. The bill, which has cleared three key committee reviews, is now scheduled for a floor vote in the State Assembly, marking a significant step toward becoming law. If enacted, the measure would require publishers to provide advance notice, refunds, or offline versions of digital games when online services cease.

Introduced by Assemblymember Chris Ward in February 2026, the legislation was advised on by the game preservation group Stop Killing Games. The group, formed in response to the deletion of Ubisoft's *The Crew*, has been advocating for similar protections in the EU and UK. The bill applies only to titles released on or after January 1, 2027, and excludes free-to-play and subscription-only games.

Under the proposed law, digital game operators would be required to warn players at least 60 days in advance if services necessary for the ordinary use of a game will cease. Publishers would then need to offer either a full refund of the purchase price, a software patch enabling continued use, or a version of the game that functions independent of operator-controlled services. This framework addresses the core issue of digital ownership, where games reliant on server support become inaccessible once publishers cease maintenance.

The Entertainment Software Association (ESA), which represents game publishers, has historically opposed such measures. The industry group argues that consumers receive a license to use a game rather than unrestricted ownership. In previous statements, the ESA has described the shutdown of obsolete games as a natural feature of modern software, particularly when online infrastructure maintenance is required. Engadget has contacted the ESA for comment on the proposed law, but no response has been received at the time of reporting.

The bill has passed the Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee, Judiciary Committee, and Appropriations Committee with an 11–2 vote as of May 14. While the legislation has made rapid progress, it still faces a long path through the State Assembly and State Senate before it can be signed into law. Meanwhile, some publishers are already adapting to these concerns; Ubisoft added an offline mode to *The Crew 2* in October 2025, ensuring the game remains accessible even after support for its online features ends.