# Power To The Players Act Targets Digital Game Ownership Rights New legislation proposes ending digital game rental models disguised as permanent consumer sales. - **Source:** [Slashdot](https://brifing.si/source/0f34d58e-1ccd-45a6-ab82-2de4065dc7ad) - **Published:** 2026-10-18 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/5231ada3-7ac6-43f8-828f-50cb606c5a58 ## Legislative Shift in Ownership U.S. Representative Ritchie Torres has introduced the Power To The Players Act to redefine digital game ownership. The bill challenges the current industry standard where companies treat sales as temporary licenses. By mandating true ownership, the legislation aims to prevent publishers from rendering expensive digital purchases useless through server shutdowns. ## The NBA 2K25 Precedent The urgency for this bill stems from the planned decommissioning of NBA 2K25. Despite being a top-selling title, 2K Games will delist the game on October 30 and terminate online servers by January 1, 2027. This cycle effectively strips users of access to core game modes despite their initial seventy-dollar investment. ## Regulatory Oversight via FTC The proposed legislation directs the Federal Trade Commission to establish strict regulations regarding digital game distribution. Companies would be legally required to provide more than a revocable license to consumers. This shift forces developers to account for long-term accessibility, ensuring that digital storefronts cannot unilaterally revoke access to purchased software products. ## Mandating Offline Functionality A critical component of the bill requires games with online features to include functional offline modes. This mechanism ensures that software remains playable even after developers shut down official servers. By decoupling game access from active server maintenance, the law seeks to protect the longevity of digital assets for all paying customers. ## Scope and Strategic Exclusions The Power To The Players Act currently focuses exclusively on video games, omitting other digital media like movies or music. While digital libraries for films have faced similar removal issues, such as the disappearance of Terminator 2, this bill targets the specific interactive nature of games where server-side dependency is most prevalent. ## Political Landscape and Support Representative Torres has not yet confirmed any bipartisan support or Republican cosponsors for the proposed legislation. The bill faces a complex path through Congress, requiring significant political alignment to pass. The lack of current cosponsors highlights the challenge of regulating digital property rights against powerful industry interests and established corporate practices. ## Implications for Future Releases The relevance of this bill will be tested immediately with the upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto 6. Sold as a download code in a box for eighty dollars, the title exemplifies the current lack of consumer control. This release highlights the immediate necessity for legal frameworks governing digital-only purchase models. ## Industry Impact and Outlook If enacted, this legislation would fundamentally alter the digital distribution model for the gaming industry. Publishers would need to redesign software architecture to support offline play, increasing development costs. This move represents a significant attempt to balance corporate control over digital ecosystems with the fundamental consumer right to own purchased goods. ## Sources covering this story - https://news.slashdot.org/story/26/10/18/235244/new-video-game-law-proposed-if-you-pay-for-it-you-own-it?utm_source=rss1.0mainlinkanon&utm_medium=feed — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._