# Power To The Players Act Targets Video Game Ownership Rights New congressional bill seeks to redefine digital game purchases from licenses to permanent ownership. - **Source:** [The Verge (theverge.com)](https://www.theverge.com) - **Published:** 2026-10-18 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/af64f15c-31f2-46bf-83a4-0e07fe16fa8a ## Legislative Push for Ownership Representative Ritchie Torres has introduced the Power To The Players Act in the United States Congress. This proposed legislation aims to fundamentally change how digital games are categorized by directing the Federal Trade Commission to establish regulations ensuring that a consumer purchase constitutes actual ownership rather than a temporary licensing agreement. ## Addressing Server Dependency Issues The bill directly addresses the industry trend where games require constant server connections to function. When companies decide to shut down these servers, titles often become completely unplayable for users. This legislative effort seeks to protect consumers from losing access to software they have already paid for due to corporate decisions. ## Case Study of NBA 2K25 Representative Torres specifically highlighted NBA 2K25 as a primary example of current industry practices. The game is scheduled for removal from digital storefronts soon, with servers set to shut down on December 31st. This move effectively limits the game's playability, serving as a catalyst for the proposed federal regulatory intervention. ## Industry Shift and Digital Risks Concerns regarding digital ownership have intensified following Sony’s announcement regarding the phase-out of physical game discs by 2028. This shift toward purely digital distribution models increases the risk that players could lose access to their entire libraries if companies decide to pull the plug on specific backend infrastructure or services. ## Defining Sales Versus Rentals Representative Torres explicitly stated that a game which can be taken away by a company is not a true purchase. He characterized the current industry model as a rental disguised as a sale. The bill aims to force transparency in how gaming companies market their products to the general public moving forward. ## Mandating Offline Functionality Beyond redefining ownership, the proposed legislation requires developers to institute an offline mode before shutting down supporting servers. This ensures that even if the primary online infrastructure is decommissioned, the core game remains functional for the end user, preserving the value of the initial transaction made by the gaming consumer. ## Precedent in State Legislation This federal effort mirrors the Protect Our Games Act introduced by State Senator John Kane in Pennsylvania. That state-level bill proposes requiring companies to provide offline modes, independent online modes, or a minimum 25 percent refund when titles are sunset. These combined efforts signal a growing political appetite for consumer protection. ## Implications for Gaming Business If enacted, this legislation would force a significant shift in the business models of major gaming publishers. Companies would need to architect games with offline capabilities from the start, potentially increasing development costs. The outcome will determine whether the industry maintains its current licensing-heavy model or adopts more consumer-friendly ownership standards. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.theverge.com/policy/1013521/video-game-ownership-bill-congress-power-to-the-players-act — --- _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._