Rep. Torres Introduces Bill to Require Game Ownership Over Licensing

Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) announced the Power To The Players Act on October 16, 2026, legislation that would direct the Federal Trade Commission to establish regulations treating video game purchases as ownership rather than revocable licenses. The bill responds to a decade-long industry shift toward digital-only distribution and licensing models that allow publishers to remove access to games unilaterally.

The bill's core provisions require that purchasing a video game grants ownership rather than a limited license; that games with online functionality provide an offline mode before servers are shut down; and that consumers retain the right to transfer games they purchase. Torres cited NBA 2K25 as a primary example: the game launched in September 2025 at $69.99 (standard) or $99.99 (All-Star Edition), but is scheduled for delisting from digital storefronts on October 30 and server shutdown on December 31, 2026—roughly two years after release—rendering online features permanently inaccessible.

Torres stated: "When you pay for a game, you should own it. Consumers must have the right to own, the right to play, and the right to 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." He characterized the proposed rules as a "restoration to the historical norm," referencing how games were typically experienced in the 1990s as owned products rather than licensed services.

The announcement reflects broader consumer and advocacy concern over game preservation and access. The Stop Killing Games campaign gathered nearly 1.3 million verified signatures in the European Union, though the European Commission declined binding legal requirements in June 2026, instead offering voluntary industry talks. Recent examples cited in industry discussion include Ubisoft's 2024 shutdown of The Crew (an online-only game rendered unplayable despite recent purchases) and Overwatch's replacement by Overwatch 2, which discontinued the original game entirely. Sony's digital sales now represent 82 percent of full-game unit sales on PlayStation platforms, and the company announced plans to discontinue physical media releases—a move some players argue undermines long-term game preservation.

The bill has not yet been formally introduced, and Torres has not announced cosponsors. Similar state-level efforts, including California's Protect Our Games Act and Pennsylvania's Protect Our Games Act (which would require publishers to provide offline modes, community server support, or 25 percent refunds), have faced industry opposition and legislative obstacles. The ESA (Entertainment Software Association) has opposed such measures. Transfer rights for digital games would effectively enable digital resale—a feature no major digital storefront currently permits—making significant industry pushback likely.