A Pennsylvania state senator has filed a bill that targets the growing practice of publishers disabling digital games once online servers go dark. The Protect Our Games Act, introduced by Sen. John Kane, would require game manufacturers to give customers at least 60 days' notice before ending access to a title. The bill also mandates that publishers provide one of three remedies: allow offline play, patch the game to work independently of its servers, or refund the cost at its highest price in the past 12 months, which cannot be lower than 25% of the initial sale price.
The measure comes amid rising concern over digital game preservation, fueled by Sony's recent announcement that it will stop producing physical discs by 2028. If enacted, the law would only apply in Pennsylvania, but it could set a precedent for other states. It also aligns with the "Stop Killing Games" movement, though that effort has not yet produced a law in the EU. In California, a similar bill has passed a State Assembly vote but still faces further legislative steps. The Pennsylvania bill is still in its early stages, with no clear path to the governor's desk. It does not grant full ownership to players, but it would create a backstop against abrupt loss of access to purchased games. This article is based solely on the provided Tom's Hardware report.