Ritchie Torres proposes bill to secure video game ownership rights
New York Representative Ritchie Torres has introduced the Power To The Players Act, which would direct the Federal Trade Commission to make rules ensuring that buying a video game gives consumers ownership, rather than only a licence to play it. The proposal responds to games that rely on company servers and can become unplayable when those servers close.
The bill would also require developers to add an offline mode before shutting down supporting servers. Torres cited NBA 2K25, which is due to leave storefronts at the end of the month, with its servers scheduled to close on 31 December. The proposal follows wider concerns about access to games, including Sony’s plan to phase out physical game discs in 2028, and resembles a Pennsylvania bill offering alternative protections when games are discontinued.
- A US bill would treat purchased games as owned, not merely licensed.
- Developers would have to provide an offline mode before server shutdowns.
- NBA 2K25 is cited as a game facing delisting and server closure.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters argue that people who pay for games should retain meaningful access to them, especially when a publisher later closes the servers that make them playable. Requiring an offline mode before shutdown could protect consumers’ investment and preserve games as cultural works, while clearer ownership rights may encourage fairer treatment of buyers.
The case against
Critics could argue that a legal right to ownership and mandatory offline modes may be difficult to apply across games with online services, licensed content, or ongoing technical requirements. Such rules could impose costs and restrictions on developers, potentially affecting how they design, support, and discontinue games; they may favour consumer access at the expense of flexibility to manage evolving products.
Entertainment Gaming Government Politics
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by The Verge as “Video game ownership bill introduced in Congress”.