California Assembly Advances Bill to Prevent Publishers From Killing Online Games

Legislative Progress in California

The California State Assembly has passed the "Protect Our Games Act," marking a significant milestone for the "Stop Killing Games" movement. The bill cleared the Assembly's appropriations committee before advancing to a floor vote by the full legislative body.

According to reports, the bill received bipartisan support during the process, securing 43 "Aye" votes in the California State Assembly. This movement forward is described as one of the largest victories for the advocacy group seeking to change how online games are retired.

Goals of the Protect Our Games Act

The legislation, identified as AB 1921, is designed to block game publishers from permanently disabling games in a way that renders them completely unplayable. The core objective of the "Stop Killing Games" movement is to advocate for the right of consumers to continue playing games even after the official service termination by the publisher.

By requiring that games remain in a "playable" state, the bill seeks to prevent the total loss of access to software that consumers have purchased, specifically targeting the practice of shutting down servers for online-only titles without providing a way for the community to maintain the game.

Movement Context and Next Steps

The advancement of AB 1921 is viewed as the biggest step the "Stop Killing Games" movement has taken to date. The movement focuses on the preservation of digital media and the consumer right to access products after a company decides to stop supporting them.

While the bill has passed the committee stage and received Assembly support, it still faces further legislative steps before it can become law.