California Assembly Passes Bill to Preserve Access to Purchased Games
Similar Articles
California Bill Would Require Refunds or Offline Access When Online Games Shut Down
California Bill Would Require Game Companies to Provide Options Before Ending Online Services
Consumer Rights Advocates Address EU Parliament on Game Preservation and Age Verification Laws
European Parliament Hearing Examines Legal Protections for Games After Service Shutdowns
Ubisoft Expands Offline Features for The Crew 2 Following Player Advocacy
The California State Assembly has passed the Protect Our Games Act (AB 1921), a consumer protection bill aimed at preserving access to purchased video games after online support ends. The bill, described by advocates as a major update for game preservation, was motivated by recent server shutdowns that rendered games unplayable. It now moves to the State Senate for consideration.
Facts First
- The California State Assembly passed the Protect Our Games Act (AB 1921) with a vote of 43 to 16.
- The bill would require game companies to provide advance notice before shutting down servers for purchased games.
- Companies would need to provide a way to keep purchased games playable, such as through offline access or community servers.
- The games preservation movement was motivated by Ubisoft's shutdown of The Crew's servers in March, which revoked customer licenses.
- The bill has moved to the California State Senate, where it requires wider public support to progress.
What Happened
The California State Assembly passed Assembly Bill 1921 (AB 1921), known as the Protect Our Games Act, with a floor vote of 43 to 16. The bill is a consumer protection measure that would require video game publishers to leave titles playable after terminating online support. The Stop Killing Games movement, which describes the bill as a 'big update for game preservation', was motivated by Ubisoft's decision in March to shut down servers for The Crew, an action that revoked customer licenses and prevented access to both multiplayer and single-player content due to the game's always-online nature. The bill has now moved to the California State Senate.
Why this Matters to You
If you purchase video games, this bill could help ensure you retain access to them even after a company decides to end online support. Currently, when servers for an always-online game are shut down, you may permanently lose access to a product you paid for, as happened with The Crew. If passed, this law would require companies to either provide an offline version of the game, enable community servers, or offer a refund, which could protect your investment in digital entertainment.
What's Next
The bill now requires wider public support to progress through the California State Senate. If it passes the Senate and is signed into law, video game companies operating in California would be legally required to provide advance notice before shutting down server-dependent games and to provide a workable option for keeping purchased games playable. This could set a significant precedent for consumer rights in the digital marketplace.