A member of the Pennsylvania State Senate has introduced a bill that would require video game developers to notify consumers and offer specific remedies if they decide to terminate services or revoke access to purchased digital games.
Senator John Kane, a Democrat, released a co-sponsorship memorandum on Sept 18 seeking support for the "Protect Our Games Act", designed to safeguard US consumers' long-term access to digital media.
The legislative push follows Sony's announcement that it will phase out the production of physical game discs for PlayStation consoles starting in 2028. The shift towards an all-digital format leaves consumers increasingly reliant on software licensing agreements that can be altered or revoked at any time.
Under the proposed legislation, video game publishers would be legally obligated to provide consumers with at least 60 days' advance notice before revoking access to a game or altering its core features.
Furthermore, gaming companies would be required to offer consumers at least one of three specific remedies whenever online services for a title are permanently discontinued:
- Provide an offline playable mode.
- Release a software patch enabling players to host or join online games without relying on the publisher’s infrastructure.
- Issue a refund equivalent to the highest price the publisher charged for the digital title in the 12 months prior to shutdown, capped at a minimum payout of 25 percent of the original retail price.
The bill includes a clear exemption for subscription-based gaming services, where user access is inherently tied to an active recurring subscription period.
If passed into law, enforcement responsibilities will fall under the jurisdiction of the Pennsylvania State Attorney General and local district attorneys across the state.
Source: Local21 News
