New York congressman joins fight for video game ownership with ‘Power To The Players Act’
New York Congressman Ritchie Torres has introduced the Power To The Players Act, a bill aimed at changing how digital video games are owned. It matters because players can lose access when a publisher revokes a licence or shuts down the services a game relies on.
The bill would direct the Federal Trade Commission to make rules giving buyers ownership of games rather than a licence to play them, and require games with online features to offer an offline mode before their supporting servers close. The debate has gained attention as the industry moves away from physical discs, including Sony’s announcement that it will end physical PlayStation discs from 2028. Torres is running for re-election; the article notes the proposal’s progress remains to be seen.
- Torres has introduced a bill to protect digital game ownership.
- It would require offline play before supporting servers shut down.
- Sony plans to end physical PlayStation discs from 2028.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Buyers should have lasting access to games they have paid for, especially as physical copies become less common and publishers can withdraw licences or shut down servers. Requiring an offline mode before support ends could preserve playable games for customers and help protect cultural works from disappearing.
The case against
A legal right to own digital games and a required offline mode could constrain how publishers design and support online features, and may impose technical costs when servers are retired. Publishers may argue that digital games are licensed products whose operation depends on ongoing services, and that rigid rules could affect security, updates or future business models.