GoKawiilRep. Ritchie Torres introduces Power To The Players Act to protect game ownership
New York Representative Ritchie Torres announced plans to introduce the Power To The Players Act, which would direct the Federal Trade Commission to require that video game purchases grant actual ownership rather than revocable licenses. The bill would also mandate that games with online features include an offline mode before their servers are shut down. Torres cited NBA 2K25, which will be delisted and have its servers closed just two years after release, as an example of the problem the legislation targets.
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The proposal responds to a broader industry shift toward digital-only sales and licensing models that can leave consumers without access to games they paid full price for. If enacted, the bill could force publishers to rethink how they structure digital distribution and end-of-life support for online games, though its path through Congress and any FTC rulemaking remains uncertain. Torres frames the issue as consumer protection, suggesting lawmakers may increasingly scrutinize digital ownership rights across industries beyond gaming.
- Rep. Ritchie Torres is introducing the Power To The Players Act to regulate video game ownership.
- The bill would require offline modes for online games before server shutdowns and classify purchases as ownership, not licenses.
- NBA 2K25's planned October delisting and December server shutdown is cited as a motivating example.
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Published there as: “US Rep Announces Congressional Legislation to Protect Video Game Ownership”
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