A congressman in New York has introduced legislation that aims to redefine ownership of digital games, as the industry looks to do away with physical titles.
NY-15 (Bronx) representative Ritchie Torres announced the “Power To The Players Act” (not affiliated with GameStop, which uses that as its slogan) yesterday, which “would direct the Federal Trade Commission to establish regulations protecting consumers’ ability to own and play the video games they purchase.”
This particular discussion about owning a game digitally has caught fire over the past few months, especially after Sony announced it would be ending physical PlayStation discs beginning in 2028.
“When you pay for a game, you should own it,” Torres said in a press release. “Consumers must have the right to own, the right to play, and the right to transfer the games they buy. A game that can be taken away the moment a company pulls the plug is not a purchase. It is a rental disguised as a sale. Families in the Bronx and across the country save up to buy these games, and they deserve better than a license that can vanish at any time. The Power To The Players Act ensures consumers own what they buy and can keep playing long after a company moves on.”
With no physical discs, publishers hold all the power when it comes to digital game licenses, which can be revoked at any time. Torres is the latest politician to call attention to the business practices, whether for political points or otherwise. Earlier this year, French presidential candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon also voiced displeasure about it.
“Under the bill, buying a video game would give the consumer ownership of the game rather than a license to play it,” Torres’ press release said. “Games with online functionality would also be required to provide an offline mode before the servers supporting them are shut down.”
It’s worth noting that it is election season, and Torres is currently running for reelection. Let’s hope that he’s able to follow through on the legislation if he retains his spot in office.
