California Assembly Passes Landmark 'Protect Our Games Act'
The 43-16 vote marks a significant shift in consumer rights for digital gaming, though the bill still faces Senate and executive approval before becoming law.
The California State Assembly has passed bill AB 1921, known as the 'Protect Our Games Act', by a vote of 43 to 16. The legislation represents a major legislative milestone for the 'Stop Killing Games' movement, which advocates for consumer rights regarding digital game accessibility after service termination. The bill now moves to the State Senate and requires the Governor's signature to become law.
Under the new requirements, digital game publishers must maintain an environment where games remain accessible even after official service is discontinued. For digital games released or resold after 1 January 2027, companies must provide at least 60 days' notice before terminating server operations. Furthermore, publishers are mandated to ensure purchasers can continue to access the game, such as through an alternative version or patch, or offer refunds if this is not possible.
The legislation explicitly prohibits the continued sale or distribution of games that have become unusable due to service termination. However, the bill excludes games provided via subscription services, free-to-play titles, and games that are inherently playable offline indefinitely. These exclusions define the scope of the regulation, focusing on traditional paid digital purchases.
The push for this legislation gained significant momentum in 2024 when Ubisoft shut down its racing game, 'The Crew', effectively blocking purchasers from accessing the title after server operations ceased. This incident prompted the launch of the 'Stop Killing Games' movement, led by YouTuber Ross Scott, who argued that publishers should provide a minimal playable environment or clear compensation to consumers when online features are removed.
Opposition to the bill has been voiced by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), which cites security and intellectual property concerns regarding the preservation of server code. Conversely, groups such as the Video Game History Foundation argue that games should be treated as cultural heritage, similar to films and books. California is home to major industry players including EA and Activision Blizzard, making the Assembly's decision highly symbolic for the broader US gaming sector.
