US Representative Introduces Plan To Preserve Digital Game Ownership
Representative Ritchie Torres will introduce the Power to the Players Act bill, which essentially grants players ownership of their digital games.
United States Representative Ritchie Torres intends to introduce the Power To The Players Act. The proposed legislation focuses on granting consumers ownership of their digital games. If the bill becomes successful, the Federal Trade Commission could establish regulations to prevent companies from delisting games, shutting down servers prematurely, and easily revoking digital licenses.
While some companies advocate for physical media and the preservation of discs, physical games are becoming obsolete, with publishers ceasing to sell physical versions, Sony discontinuing disc production, and Project Helix's disc drive remaining uncertain. The gaming world is shifting towards an all-digital future, and gamers are not pleased with the current state of digital media dominance in the market.
Rep. Torres aims to solidify gamers' ownership rights over their digital game libraries with the introduction of the Power To The Players bill. Currently, companies have full control over gamers' digital licenses, with the ability to delist games, shutting down servers, and stripping gamers of online features promised at launch.
Torres emphasizes that families invest their savings in games, yet with a digital license, the software they paid for can be abruptly removed from their possession at a company's discretion. The bill would require the Federal Trade Commission to set regulations granting consumers ownership of a game and protecting their ability to continue playing it.
Furthermore, online games would need to offer a playable offline mode, allowing fans to enjoy the game after servers shut down. The bill is designed to ensure players can enjoy their games for years to come and bridge the gap between purchasing and owning a game. However, the bill still faces numerous regulatory hurdles, so there is no assurance it will become law.
Despite the obstacles, the proposal demonstrates that the United States government is beginning to address concerns surrounding digital game ownership.
Written by urgent.news from Polygon's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
