Key information
US Representative Ritchie Torres has announced a proposal titled the Power To The Players Act, which aims to protect consumer ownership of digital games. The initiative seeks to mandate that online games provide an offline mode before their servers are permanently deactivated.
The legislation intends to address the distinction between purchasing a game and holding a revocable license. Beyond server shutdowns, the proposal covers the transferability of digital titles, a concern highlighted by the 2024 closure of Ubisoft's The Crew, which rendered its single-player campaign inaccessible to owners.
While the announcement has gained attention, reports from Yahoo and Polygon indicate that the measure has not yet been formally introduced. The proposal arrives during ongoing industry debates regarding game preservation, further underscored by Sony's plan to cease disc production in 2028.
The Stop Killing Games campaign has also raised awareness regarding the retirement of online services. Despite the proposal's goals, the specific regulatory rules and enforcement mechanisms remain unresolved at this stage.
