US Lawmaker Proposes Bill to Protect Digital Game Ownership

A Democratic representative from New York has unveiled proposed legislation aimed at establishing stronger consumer protections around digital game ownership. The Power To The Players Act, announced by US Representative Ritchie Torres, would direct the Federal Trade Commission to create regulations safeguarding players' rights to own, play, and transfer games they purchase.

Torres argues that current digital distribution practices amount to renting games under the guise of sales. He emphasized that when consumers pay for a game, they should have genuine ownership rights rather than revocable licenses that companies can revoke at any time. The legislation addresses a longstanding concern in the gaming industry, particularly as the market has shifted toward digital distribution on PC and increasingly on consoles, with major manufacturers phasing out physical media.

The issue has gained prominence recently due to high-profile examples of game shutdowns. Ubisoft's online racing title The Crew went offline in 2024, leaving players unable to access even single-player content they had purchased. This incident exemplifies the broader problem that motivates the proposed legislation. The Stop Killing Games campaign, a grassroots movement that has advocated for preserving online games, has pushed this issue into the public conversation and even secured meetings with European Parliament officials to discuss the problem.

The proposed bill targets two main concerns. First, it seeks to establish genuine ownership of purchased games rather than the limited licenses currently offered by most publishers. Second, it requires that developers provide offline functionality before shutting down online services, allowing players to continue enjoying games they bought even after servers close.

The challenge in implementing such protections lies in balancing consumer rights with industry practices. Games purchased through DRM-free platforms like GOG already offer true ownership, allowing players to back up and retain game files indefinitely. However, most major publishers rely on digital rights management and licensing agreements that restrict what consumers can do with their purchases. Any FTC regulations would likely need to accommodate existing copy protection systems rather than eliminate them entirely.

The legislation represents a significant intervention in how the gaming industry operates, particularly regarding the transition away from physical media. As Sony announced plans to cease disc production by 2028, digital ownership protections become increasingly relevant to console players. Torres' office has been contacted for clarification on how enforcement would function if the bill becomes law, though specific implementation details have not yet been disclosed.