Updated

Updated · GamesIndustry.biz · Jun 1

California Assembly Passes 43-16 Game Preservation Bill, Sending AB 1921 to State Senate

Updated

Updated · GamesIndustry.biz · Jun 1

California Assembly Passes 43-16 Game Preservation Bill, Sending AB 1921 to State Senate

Q: Will California's new law finally stop publishers from deleting the games you paid for?

No. California’s measure would make it harder for publishers to leave buyers with nothing, but it would not fully stop game shutdowns, and it is not law yet. AB 1921 has passed the California State Assembly and still must clear the State Senate and be signed by the governor. If enacted, it would apply only to games sold or resold on or after Jan. 1, 2027, and only to paid titles. Free-to-play games, subscription-based games, and titles already playable offline are generally outside its scope. What the bill would do is force a remedy when a publisher ends service for a purchased game. Companies would have to give 60 days’ notice and then either provide a version that still works in some lasting form, such as an offline mode or support for community-run servers, or offer a refund if that is not feasible. It would also bar continued sale of games that have been made unusable. That means publishers could still retire online services. The bill does not require them to keep official servers running forever. Instead, it tries to ensure that buyers either retain some usable version of the game or get their money back. Its practical impact could still be significant. Because California is a major games market and home to many publishers, companies may choose to change products more broadly rather than build California-only rules. But industry opposition remains strong, and the law would not fix older games already lost or titles sold before 2027.

3 articles · Updated · GamesIndustry.biz · Jun 1

AB 1921 cleared the California Assembly in a 43-16 vote, advancing a measure that would force publishers to warn players before shutting down server-dependent games and keep purchased titles playable afterward.
The bill, backed by Assembly Member Chris Ward, would require options such as offline access, community servers or another workable alternative instead of leaving buyers with unusable games.
Stop Killing Games hailed the vote as a major preservation win after Ubisoft removed The Crew from servers and customers' libraries, a flashpoint that fueled the campaign against digital obsolescence.
The measure now moves to the California Senate, where supporters say it will need continued public backing; similar pressure in the UK won a government response but no change to consumer law.

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California Assembly Passes "Protect Our Games Act" (AB 1921)

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Will California's new law finally stop publishers from deleting the games you paid for?

Could the cost of preserving old games prevent the next generation of online titles from ever being made?

AB 1921 and the Future of Digital Game Preservation: California’s Landmark Bill to Protect Consumer Rights

Overview

California's Assembly Bill 1921 (AB 1921) is a groundbreaking legislative effort aimed at preserving digital video games, reflecting growing concerns over game access as digital ownership becomes more common. As one of the first bills to address this issue, AB 1921 would require video game companies to give players at least 60 days' notice before shutting down server-dependent games and ensure continued access for purchasers, either through offline play, community servers, or refunds if access cannot be maintained. With California's influence as home to major publishers and Silicon Valley, the bill's progress could set an important precedent, especially as similar movements gain momentum in Europe.

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