Representative Ritchie Torres (D-NY) has announced plans to introduce the Power to the Players Act, a bill calling on the Federal Trade Commission to protect consumers' ability to own and play video games they have purchased. The legislation aims to counter the growing trend of digital licenses that can be revoked, highlighted by the delisting of NBA 2K25 and the shutdown of its servers. The bill would mandate that players own games rather than license them and require companies to provide offline modes when servers are taken down.
Torres described the move as a restoration of the historical norm prior to digital dominance. The bill faces obstacles, including potential committee rejection and the reduced regulatory power of the FTC following a recent Supreme Court decision.
Source: Engadget · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing