US Representative Introduces Plan To Preserve Digital Game Ownership
News Source
β’Sat, 17 Oct 2026 15:30:47 GMT
π° What Happened
US Representative Ritchie Torres plans to introduce a bill called the Power To The Players Act. It aims to give gamers real ownership of the digital games they buy.
If it passes, the Federal Trade Commission would write rules. Companies could not pull games from stores at will, shut servers down soon after launch, or cancel digital licences whenever they like.
Online games would also need an offline mode, so buyers can keep playing once servers go dark.
π The Backstory
Most game sales are now digital downloads instead of discs. Sony has said it will stop making physical PlayStation games in 2028, and other publishers are dropping discs too.
When you buy a download you are really buying a licence, and the company still controls it. A store can remove a game in minutes, and a studio can close a server if a game does not make enough money.
Torres said families put their savings into games that can be taken away on a company's schedule. The bill still faces a long path before it can become law.
π― Why It Matters
If it passes, games people already paid for could stay playable long after a company loses interest. For now, it is a sign that lawmakers are watching the move to all-digital games.
US Representative Ritchie Torres plans to introduce a bill called the Power To The Players Act. It aims to give gamers real ownership of the digital games they buy.
If it passes, the Federal Trade Commission would write rules. Companies could not pull games from stores at will, shut servers down soon after launch, or cancel digital licences whenever they like.
Online games would also need an offline mode, so buyers can keep playing once servers go dark.
Most game sales are now digital downloads instead of discs. Sony has said it will stop making physical PlayStation games in 2028, and other publishers are dropping discs too.
When you buy a download you are really buying a licence, and the company still controls it. A store can remove a game in minutes, and a studio can close a server if a game does not make enough money.
Torres said families put their savings into games that can be taken away on a company's schedule. The bill still faces a long path before it can become law.
If it passes, games people already paid for could stay playable long after a company loses interest. For now, it is a sign that lawmakers are watching the move to all-digital games.