- Representative Rich Torres of New York 15 district introduced the 'Power to the Players Act', which would require the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to write rules so that game buyers own the games rather than holding a license to use them.
- According to the article, many games require a server connection, so if a company shuts down its servers, the game cannot be run. The article uses the NBA 2K25 as an example, reporting that 2K removed the game from sale and will shut down its servers on 31 December.
- The bill also requires developers to offer an offline mode before turning off servers. The article says a similar bill, the 'Protect Gaming Act' introduced by Pennsylvania State Senator John Kane, would require one of three things: an offline mode, an online mode that does not depend on servers, or a refund of at least 25 percent.
- The article cites Sony's plan to phase out physical discs by 2028 as background for the debate over ownership and resale.
O: This is useful for users who want to resell digitally purchased games or keep playing them after a server shuts down. Before buying, they can check the service end policy and whether offline mode is offered.
X: The bill is still at the proposal stage, and whether it passes or what its final provisions will be has not been confirmed, so much of this relies on Rep. Torres's office's explanation and article summaries.