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California’s Protect Our Games Act, propelled by advocacy group Stop Killing Games, advanced from the Assembly appropriations committee and now heads to a full floor vote. The bill would require publishers who shut down online game services to either issue refunds or deliver an updated, offline-capable version, with 60 days’ notice. It targets paid games sold in California from Jan. 1, 2027, while exempting free and strictly subscription-tied titles. The Entertainment Software Association opposes the measure, arguing it misunderstands licensing and technical realities. If enacted, the law could significantly change publisher obligations around game longevity and consumer protection.
The bill would create new legal obligations for game publishers in California, affecting development, operations, and consumer support strategies. Tech professionals should plan for potential compliance, preservation engineering, and legal changes shaping game lifecycle decisions.
Dossier last updated: 2026-05-15 20:42:20
California’s Protect Our Games Act advanced from the Assembly appropriations committee and could soon get a full Assembly vote; it would require publishers that shut down online games sold in California after Jan. 1, 2027 to either issue full refunds or provide an updated, self-contained version that doesn’t depend on operator-controlled services, plus 60 days’ notice before ending essential services. The bill, backed by player advocacy group Stop Killing Games and drafted with its input, aims to preserve consumer access to paid live-service titles; the Entertainment Software Association argues it misunderstands licensing realities and could force impractical renegotiations of music and IP rights. The measure still needs passage in both legislative houses and the governor’s signature.
California’s Protect Our Games Act advanced from the Assembly appropriations committee and would require publishers who shut down online-game services to either refund purchasers or provide an updated, offline-capable version of the game, plus 60 days’ notice before disabling services. The bill, backed by preservation group Stop Killing Games and introduced by Assemblyman Chris Ward, targets paid games sold in California from Jan 1, 2027 onward and excludes free titles and pure subscription-only games. The Entertainment Software Association warns the law mischaracterizes licensing realities and could force untenable renegotiations of music and IP rights. The bill still needs full Assembly and Senate approval before reaching Gov. Gavin Newsom.
California’s Protect Our Games Act advanced out of the Assembly appropriations committee after an 11–2 vote, requiring publishers that shut down online game services to either refund players or provide an updated, offline-capable version, with 60 days’ notice. The bill, supported by player advocacy group Stop Killing Games (SKG) and advised by SKG on drafting, targets paid games sold in California from Jan. 1, 2027, while exempting free and strictly subscription-only titles. The Entertainment Software Association opposes the measure, arguing it misunderstands licensing realities and could force publishers into legally or technically infeasible obligations. The bill still needs full Assembly and Senate approval and the governor’s signature to become law.
A California bill, the Protect Our Games Act, cleared the Assembly appropriations committee and now heads to a full floor vote; it would force digital game publishers that shut down online services to either refund players or provide an updated version that runs without the operator's services, and mandate 60 days' notice before service cessation. The measure advances a grassroots preservation push led by Stop Killing Games and moves despite opposition from industry lobbyists such as the Entertainment Software Association. Exemptions include fully free games and games tied strictly to subscription durations; it would apply to paid games sold in California on or after January 1, 2027 if enacted. The law could reshape publisher obligations around game longevity and consumer protections.