Power To The Players Act Seeks to Guarantee Game Ownership
Rep. Ritchie Torres has introduced a bill that would oblige the FTC to create rules guaranteeing buyers actually own games, not just licenses, after echoing concerns that servers shutdown can make titles unplayable.
New legislation called the Power To The Players Act was introduced by Rep. Ritchie Torres of New York’s 15th district, calling for federal rules that recognize game ownership instead of licensing.
The proposal acknowledges that many modern games need an online connection; if a company shuts down its servers, the purchased title can become unplayable, leaving consumers stranded.
Torres cites NBA 2K25 as a recent case; 2K plans to delete the game from storefronts and shut down its servers at the month’s end, an example that the bill seeks to address.
Sources1
Original reporting and primary evidence.
Claim connections5
Rep. Ritchie Torres introduced the Power To The Players Act in Congress.
confirmedConnected sources1
If passed, the bill would direct the Federal Trade Commission to establish regulations that guarantee consumers ownership of a game when they pay for it, rather than a licensing agreement.
confirmedConnected sources1
Many games sold today require a persistent connection to a server.
confirmedConnected sources1
When a company shuts down servers for a game, the title often becomes unplayable.
confirmedConnected sources1
2K will delist NBA 2K25 from storefronts at the end of the month and shut down its servers, a scenario the bill references.
confirmed