California bill could save gamers from losing access to online-dependent titles

California’s State Assembly has approved the Protect Our Games Act (AB 1921), a bill aimed at safeguarding players from losing access to online-dependent games. The legislation passed with a vote of 43 to 16 and now moves to the State Senate for further consideration. The bill requires game companies to give 60 days’ notice before shutting down online servers for titles that rely on them. If support ends, developers must either provide a way for players to keep accessing the game—such as an offline mode or community-run servers—or offer refunds to owners.

The push for the law began after Ubisoft announced in 2024 that it would de-list *The Crew*, rendering the game unplayable for those who had already bought it. This decision sparked the formation of Stop Killing Games, an advocacy group fighting for game preservation, which strongly backed the bill. A constituent from San Diego initially proposed the idea, frustrated by repeatedly losing access to recently purchased games. While the bill has gained support from preservationists, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the trade body representing the US video game industry, has spoken out against it.

The Protect Our Games Act now heads to the California State Senate, where it will need additional approval before becoming law. If passed, it would mark a major step in protecting players from losing access to games they own when online services are discontinued.