A new bill introduced by Democratic Congressman Ritchie Torres aims to ensure that consumers actually own the digital games they purchase, rather than simply acquiring a license that can be revoked. Dubbed The Power to the Players Act, the legislation would mandate the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to create regulations safeguarding gamers and their digital collections.
The core tenet of the bill is to grant players the right to own, play, and 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," Torres stated in a press release. He emphasized that families deserve better than a license that could disappear at any time, asserting that the act would "ensure consumers own what they buy and can keep playing long after a company moves on."
This initiative comes in response to growing industry trends and controversies. Torres specifically cited the recent announcement that NBA 2K25 would render its single-player modes inaccessible due to server shutdowns, a move that sparked confusion given the game's relatively recent release. The bill also addresses the broader implications of the industry's shift away from physical media, pointing to PlayStation's plan to end physical disc production for new games starting in 2028 and Grand Theft Auto 6's anticipated lack of a physical release, which would eliminate the possibility of a used game market.
The Power to the Players Act aligns with the goals of the "Stop Killing Games" movement, which advocates for greater accessibility to owned games, even after server shutdowns. While the bill's passage through the legislative process remains to be seen, its introduction represents a significant effort to address persistent issues concerning digital ownership and game preservation in the United States.