Power To The Players Act aims to guarantee you own digital games

The idea of owning a game you buy could get a formal upgrade in the United States. A new bill introduced in Congress, the Power To The Players Act, would ask the Federal Trade Commission to write rules that guarantee consumers own a game when they pay for it, not just a license to play it.

Rep. Ritchie Torres of New York’s 15th district unveiled the proposal this week, aiming to curb what critics call “license to play” models. Under the bill, developers would have to include an offline mode before they sunset servers that a game depends on, or offer an alternative that makes the title playable without ongoing connectivity. The concept is simple: if you buy a game, you should be able to play it even if the company shuts down the servers someday.

Proponents point to recent examples where a game’s playability hinges on online services. NBA 2K25, for instance, is slated for delisting from storefronts, with servers set to shut down at the end of December. Once those servers go dark, some players can no longer access the game they paid for. The bill spells out a stronger standard for ownership and adds protections that aren’t always obvious when you click to buy a digital title.

Beyond ownership, the bill addresses refunds and offline access. It would require developers to provide an offline or independent online mode for games that sunset servers, or offer refunds for titles when sunset is confirmed. The proposal aligns with ongoing debates about whether physical discs will disappear completely and what that means for people who don’t want to rely on servers in perpetuity. Critics warn that without clear rules, a growing share of games could become unplayable even though you’ve already paid for them.

Supporters say the changes would give players more control and reduce the risk of losing access to a purchased game. Opponents argue about how to define ownership, who pays for offline modes, and the practicalities of enforcing such standards across a global industry with thousands of titles. As with many bills, it remains to be seen how much traction the Power To The Players Act gains and whether regulators would approve a framework that’s specific enough to shape business models without stifling innovation.

The broader backdrop includes conversations about Sony’s announced plan to phase out physical game discs in 2028. While that push toward digital-only formats isn’t a direct part of the bill, it amplifies the stakes for ownership and access. If many games rely on servers to function, questions about what counts as owning a game become even more urgent for everyday players.

For readers wondering what this could mean for their wallets and their libraries: if the bill passes, you could expect clearer rights about playing a game you’ve bought, better protection if a company pulls the plug, and potential refunds on sunsets. If it stalls, you’ll still see the same market dynamics that put licensing terms in the fine print and often leave players with uncertain access when servers go dark.

What happens next is uncertain. The bill now faces committee reviews and political negotiations that determine whether it becomes law. If you’re curious about how this might affect your next digital purchase, keep an eye on updates from Congress and any FTC statements once the bill advances.