Congressman Introduces ‘Power to the Players Act’ to Protect Digital Game Ownership

By Sam Ramirez•16 October 2026

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Democratic Congressman Ritchie Torres is introducing legislation that would ensure consumers own their digital games rather than merely purchasing a revocable license, directing the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to establish regulations protecting gamers and their digital libraries.

The bill, known as The Power to the Players Act, requires online games to have offline functionality so content can still be played after servers are shut down. According to a report by Cade Onder for IGN’s news team, Torres wants to ensure that when you buy a digital game, you actually own it, as opposed to getting a license that can be revoked.

“Consumers must have the right to own, the right to play, and the right to transfer the games they buy,” Torres said in a press release. “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.”

Congressman Ritchie Torres

Torres cited NBA 2K25 as an example, a game that recently announced it would be rendering single-player modes inaccessible due to servers shutting down. The news gained widespread attention, as many were confused why a game only two years old was becoming obsolete so soon.

The bill addresses ongoing controversies in the industry. Earlier this year, it was confirmed that PlayStation would be ditching physical games starting in 2028, which would mean gamers wouldn’t be able to truly own their games starting with the next-generation. GTA 6 is also skipping a physical release this November, meaning there won’t be any used copies of the game following its release.

The Stop Killing Spiele movement has been fighting to make games more accessible to their current owners, even after they shut down servers. Torres’ bill would ensure they get their way, at least in the United States.