Video game ownership bill introduced in Congress - The Verge
Rep. Ritchie Torres has introduced the Power To The Players Act, which aims to mandate true consumer ownership of video games. The bill would require developers to provide offline modes before shutting down servers, preventing games from becoming unplayable.
Why it matters
This legislation addresses the growing consumer rights debate regarding digital goods and the loss of access to purchased media when companies sunset online services.
Rep. Ritchie Torres of New York’s 15th congressional district in the Bronx introduced the Power To The Players Act this week. If passed, the bill would direct the Federal Trade Commission to establish regulations that guarantee consumers ownership of a game when they pay for it, rather than a licensing agreement.
It’s increasingly common for games sold to require a connection to a server. Meaning that when a company decides to shut down those servers, the games often become unplayable. Rep. Torres singles out NBA 2K25 as a recent example. 2K will be delisting the game from storefronts at the end of the month and shutting down its servers on December 31st, limiting its playability.
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