Purchasing a video game does not guarantee permanent access. New York Representative Ritchie Torres has put forward the Power To The Players Act to grant gamers expanded rights regarding their purchased titles. The legislation would require publishers to provide an offline gameplay option prior to shutting down servers for games reliant on online services. Additionally, it aims to safeguard players against losing access to titles they have already purchased. Should the bill pass, gamers would retain the ability to play certain games even after publishers end their support.
This legislative proposal arrives at a time when an increasing number of games rely heavily on online servers and player accounts. For instance, NBA 2K25 is scheduled to be removed from digital storefronts on October 30, 2026, with its online servers shutting down on December 31. Following the server closure, specific features of the game may cease to function. Torres argues that players deserve greater value from the games they purchase. Nevertheless, the bill remains in its infancy, and its ultimate regulations have yet to be determined.
The legislation aligns with the “Stop Killing Physical Games” movement, an online initiative advocating for government action to outlaw these industry practices. The movement gained momentum after Ubisoft abruptly terminated support for the 2014 racing game *The Crew* and removed it completely from players’ libraries. In the words of Torres, “Consumers must have the right to own, the right to play, and the right to transfer the games they buy.”
Upon enactment, publishers would be required to implement offline support for paying customers, even if a title is pulled from sale, its servers are taken offline, or support is discontinued.
What Happens When Publishers Shut Down Games?
The legislation is designed to extend players’ access to digital titles. While it does not guarantee that companies will maintain active servers for years, it mandates that whenever a service is terminated, publishers must find a way to keep the game accessible to the consumers who own it. Because developing an offline mode requires both time and financial investment, the requirement might ultimately encourage a return to physical discs as a viable solution.
This proposed measure has the potential to transform how consumers purchase and retain their video games. For the time being, players must monitor whether the legislation progresses and what specific guidelines it will establish. Its fundamental objective remains straightforward: paying for a video game should not result in losing it simply because a company decides to move on.
