California State Assembly member Chris Ward introduced a bill called “Protect Our Games Act” earlier this year. The bill focuses on a topic many gamers have voiced concerns about before: the ability to play a game they paid for, even if the publisher decides to shut it down. The bill was first sent to the California State Assembly, and it passed with a vote of 43-16. Then, the bill was recently passed to the Senate, where it failed. There were four yes votes, three no votes, and the rest of the Senate abstained.
The introduced bill targets paid online games, as they would be unplayable if shut down at any time. Publishers would have to give 60 days’ notice if they plan to shut down the game servers, as well as disclose the shutdown date, the kind of support that’s ending, which parts of the game will no longer function, and any potential security issues if gamers continue to play.
It would also impose three options on the publisher: refund the full amount to all purchasers, provide an alternative game version that can be played offline, or patch/update the game so it can continue to be played independently.
The bill is tied to the Stop Killing Games movement, in which representatives of consumers are fighting for more rights regarding game shutdowns. According to SKG, this was the bill’s first attempt, and no funding or lobbying was done before it was put forth. There are plans to regroup, lobby, invest money, and try again in the future, as well as extend this to the federal level, rather than just the State of California.
We will continue to follow the progress of this bill and provide any updates as they come. Make sure to follow GameObserver for all your gaming news!
