US Rep Proposes Bill to Give Video Game Buyers "Ownership," Not "a License"
The bill would require offline play for games with online features and give consumers more than revocable licenses as publishers pull titles from storefronts.
- Democratic Congressman Ritchie Torres announced plans to introduce The Players Act, legislation directing the Federal Trade Commission to establish regulations ensuring consumers own the digital games they purchase rather than merely licensing them.
- Mounting consumer frustration over expiring licenses prompted the proposal, specifically citing an NBA game that launched in 2024 for $70 but faces server shutdowns rendering single-player modes inaccessible after two years.
- Torres described the bill as a "restoration to the historical norm" of ownership and framed it as an "affordability issue" for families. The legislation mandates offline functionality for games when servers eventually shut down.
- While the proposal reflects goals from the Stop Killing Games movement, it faces significant legislative hurdles; roughly 87 percent of all introduced legislation never receives a full vote, and major publishers are expected to lobby against restrictions.
- Should the bill succeed, Torres envisions it serving as a model for codifying ownership rights across other digital media. Future releases like Grand Theft Auto underscore the urgency, as physical copies become increasingly rare.
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71 Articles
Everything We Know About the 'Power to Players Act,' a New Bill That Could Change Gaming Forever
As any clued-in gamer can tell you, the prospect of actually owning the video games you’ve purchased has never been shakier. Sony recently tried to convince customers that they don’t own any games digitally purchased from the PlayStation Store, gaslighting us into thinking we’ve merely been buying a limited, revocable software license. There’s a simmering […]
The Independent
The Independent (US)New US law could completely change how games consoles work
Proposal comes amid controversy over games such as GTA 6, and outrage over digital purchases
Bill Would Give Users “Ownership” Of Video Games
Ars Technica reports: A new bill proposed by Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) aims to establish new regulations that would ensure that “buying a video game would give the consumer ownership of the game rather than a license to play it,” including assurances that they can continue to access the games for years after they are … The post Bill Would Give Users “Ownership” Of Video Games appeared first on Joe.My.God..
New York Rep Introduces Bill Which Could Keep Games Playable for Longer
Rep. Ritchie Torres (NY-15) said 'consumers must have the right to own, the right to play, and the right to transfer the games they buy.' European gamers haven’t had the best luck when it comes to lobbying governments to secure their ownership of their games long-term, with proposals being struck down by politicians—but Americans might well have a shot.Earlier this week, Rep. Ritchie Torres (NY-15) announced he will introduce the Power …
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