Master Xehanort

The video game industry is lobbying against Stop Killing Games California is considering a new law called AB 1921, also known as the Protect Our Games Act. If passed, the bill would apply to paid digital games sold after January 1, 2027. It requires that if a company shuts down the online services needed to play the game normally, it must give players 60 days' notice and either release a patch so the game can still be played or offer buyers a full refund. The bill does not require companies to keep servers running forever. It simply prevents them from making a game unplayable without warning or a solution for those who already paid for it. The Entertainment Software Association, the main group representing video game companies in the United States, is lobbying against the bill. Their arguments are basically the usual ones: >games are licensed, not owned >online services are complicated >third-party licenses expire >security risks exist >this could be hard or expensive to enforce Supporters of the bill, including the Stop Killing Games campaign, say this is basic customer protection because when you buy a game, it should not suddenly stop working with no remedy. The bill gives companies clear options and applies only to future games. A hearing is scheduled for this Thursday in the California Assembly Appropriations Committee. If you are part of an organization in the United States, especially in California, you can submit a letter of support to the committee. This is an important step for better rights for players who buy digital games.