California lawmakers are working on a bill to preserve access to online games
Key takeaways
- The bill, which was introduced as the "Protect Our Games Act," is particularly notable because Stop Killing Games, a games preservation group pushing for similar protections in the EU and UK, advised on its creation.
- It also would only apply to titles released on or after January 1, 2027.
- Engadget has contacted the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the industry group that represents game publishers, to comment on the proposed law.
Stop Killing Games. A bill that could require game publishers to offer a way to access online games after they are no longer actively supported is making its way to a floor vote in the California State Assembly, the first step on its way to becoming law, Ars Technica reports. The bill, which was introduced as the "Protect Our Games Act," is particularly notable because Stop Killing Games, a games preservation group pushing for similar protections in the EU and UK, advised on its creation.
If made law in its current incarnation, the Protect Our Games Act would require game publishers or "digital game operators" to warn players at least 60 days in advance of when "services necessary for the ordinary use of the digital game will cease," and either offer a refund of the full purchase price of the game, a software patch that would make the game playable or a version of the game that works "independent of services controlled by the operator." The law wouldn't apply to free games or games that are only accessible via a subscription. It also would only apply to titles released on or after January 1, 2027.
Engadget has contacted the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the industry group that represents game publishers, to comment on the proposed law. We'll update this article if we hear back.