California took a big step toward protecting players’ access to online games when a bill forcing publishers to refund or offer offline versions passed out of the Assembly’s appropriations committee on Tuesday. The Protect Our Games Act now moves to a full floor vote, where it could become law as soon as this summer. The bill’s passage is a win for the grassroots Stop Killing Games movement, which has pushed for years to stop publishers from pulling the plug on games players still love to play.

The bill, authored by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, would require publishers like Electronic Arts or Ubisoft to give players 60 days’ notice before shutting down an online game’s servers. If they still pull the plug, players must get a full refund or a version of the game that works without the publisher’s servers. That means no more sudden shutdowns of games like Marvel Heroes or Destiny, which vanished overnight when their publishers ended support.

Industry fights back hard

The Entertainment Software Association (ESA), which represents big game companies, says the bill will drive up costs and force smaller studios to shut down completely. In a letter to lawmakers, the ESA warned that requiring offline versions could require rewriting entire games, a process that costs millions and takes years. The group also argued that the 60-day notice period doesn’t give studios enough time to plan for shutdowns, especially for niche games with small player bases.

Stop Killing Games, the group pushing the bill, says those concerns are overblown. They point to games like No Man’s Sky, which kept running for years after its publisher stopped official support because fans modded it to keep playing. The movement argues that players deserve more than a forced upgrade to a new game or a refund that doesn’t cover the time they spent grinding for in-game items.

What happens next

If the full Assembly passes the bill, it moves to the Senate, where it faces a tougher fight. The ESA has already signaled it will lobby hard against the bill, and similar proposals in other states have stalled after heavy industry pushback. California’s bill is the first to make it this far, but its success isn’t guaranteed. Even if it passes, the law would only apply to games sold in California, meaning players in other states could still lose access without warning.

The debate isn’t just about keeping old games alive. It’s about who controls digital ownership. Publishers argue they own the games they sell, even if players keep copies on their hard drives. Players and preservationists say once you buy a game, you should be able to play it—no internet required. The bill doesn’t settle that fight, but it forces the industry to confront it.

For now, the bill’s future depends on whether lawmakers side with players or the industry. The Assembly vote could happen as early as next month, and if it passes, the Senate will likely take it up in the fall. Players who’ve lost access to favorite games will be watching closely.

What You Need to Know

  • Source: Ars Technica
  • Published: May 15, 2026 at 16:35 UTC
  • Category: Technology
  • Topics: #arstechnica · #tech · #science · #war · #conflict · #bill

Read the Full Story

This is a curated summary. For the complete article, original data, quotes and full analysis:

Read the full story on Ars Technica →

All reporting rights belong to the respective author(s) at Ars Technica. GlobalBR News summarizes publicly available content to help readers discover the most relevant global news.

Curated by GlobalBR News · May 15, 2026

🇧🇷 Resumo em Português

A Califórnia dá mais um passo para garantir direitos aos jogadores brasileiros que amam games online: um projeto de lei que obriga as empresas a oferecerem versões offline ou reembolsos quando desativarem servidores ganhou força no estado americano. A medida, já aprovada em uma comissão crucial, agora segue para votação na Assembleia Legislativa, colocando em xeque o modelo de negócios de gigantes como EA, Activision e Take-Two, que frequentemente encerram serviços online de títulos antigos sem alternativa aos fãs.

No Brasil, onde milhões de jogadores ainda se ressentem da descontinuação de games como NBA 2K15 ou The Sims 3 — que perderam seus servidores há anos e sequer ofereceram compensações —, a discussão ganha relevância. Especialistas em direito digital e consumidor argumentam que a lei californiana poderia servir de referência para regulamentações no país, onde o Código de Defesa do Consumidor já protege o comprador, mas a aplicação prática é nebulosa. Além disso, a medida reforça a pressão por transparência em uma indústria que lucra bilhões com vendas de jogos, mas costuma fechar serviços sem aviso prévio, deixando colecionadores e fãs na mão.

Se a lei for aprovada, a indústria de games terá que repensar suas políticas globais — ou correr o risco de enfrentar regulações semelhantes em outros países, incluindo o Brasil.

🇪🇸 Resumen en Español

California avanza hacia una ley que obligará a las distribuidoras a ofrecer alternativas cuando cierren servidores de videojuegos en línea, un giro clave que podría redefinir los derechos de los jugadores. La propuesta, ya aprobada en una comisión crucial, choca frontalmente con los intereses de la industria, que defiende su libertad para gestionar sus plataformas.

El proyecto, impulsado por defensores de los consumidores, busca proteger a millones de usuarios hispanohablantes que invierten tiempo y dinero en juegos multijugador, muchos de ellos con comunidades activas en español. Si se aprueba, establecería un precedente en EE.UU. al priorizar el acceso al entretenimiento digital sobre los modelos de negocio actuales, obligando a las empresas a pensar en soluciones como versiones offline o reembolsos, algo que hoy rara vez ocurre. Para los jugadores, especialmente en un mercado donde el español es la segunda lengua más hablada en videojuegos, esto podría significar un respiro frente a prácticas abusivas.