US lawmaker proposes bill that would force game companies to let players keep their games

A US lawmaker has announced plans to introduce legislation that would give gamers ownership of the video games they purchase, preventing publishers from taking away access when online services shut down.

Rep. Ritchie Torres of New York announced the Power To The Players Act on October 16, a proposed bill that would direct the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to establish new consumer protections for video game purchases.

The proposal comes as the gaming industry continues shifting toward digital distribution, where purchases often grant players a license to access a game rather than outright ownership. This means publishers can potentially revoke access or shut down services that games depend on.

Rockstar Games

New bill would require games to remain playable after servers shut down

Under the Power To The Players Act, purchasing a video game would grant consumers ownership rather than a revocable license.

The legislation would also require games with online functionality to provide an offline mode before their servers are shut down, allowing players to continue accessing games after official support ends.

Additionally, the bill aims to protect consumers’ ability to transfer and resell games they have purchased.

“When you pay for a game, you should own it,” Torres said in a statement.

“Consumers must have the right to own, the right to play, and the right to transfer the games they buy. A game that can be taken away the moment a company pulls the plug is not a purchase. It is a rental disguised as a sale.”

“Families in the Bronx and across the country save up to buy these games, and they deserve better than a license that can vanish at any time. The Power To The Players Act ensures consumers own what they buy and can keep playing long after a company moves on.”

Torres pointed to NBA 2K25 as an example of the issue the legislation seeks to address.

The basketball game launched in September 2024, with its standard edition priced at $69.99 and its All-Star Edition costing $99.99.

NBA 2K

Despite those prices, NBA 2K25 is scheduled to be removed from digital storefronts on October 30, 2026, with its online servers shutting down on December 31.

The shutdown will come just over two years after the game’s release, leaving players unable to access its online features.

The Power To The Players Act has not yet been introduced in Congress, meaning its proposed requirements are not currently law. Further details about how the regulations would be enforced have not been announced.