California's new bill could save abandoned online games from extinction

California’s State Assembly has approved the Protect Our Games Act (AB 1921) with a vote of 43 to 16. The bill now moves to the State Senate for further consideration. It aims to keep online games playable even after developers stop supporting them. The legislation was first proposed by a resident of San Diego and gained backing from the advocacy group Stop Killing Games. Their goal is to protect players’ access to games that rely on online servers. Under the bill, companies must give 60 days’ notice before shutting down game support.

If support ends, firms must either provide a way for players to keep accessing the game—such as offline modes or community-run servers—or offer refunds to owners. The Entertainment Software Association (ESA), which represents major game publishers, opposes the measure. They argue it could pull resources away from developing new titles.

Stop Killing Games hit back at the ESA’s objections. The group framed the dispute as a clash between consumer rights and industry lobbying. The Protect Our Games Act will now head to the California State Senate for debate. If passed into law, it would require game companies to either maintain access to older titles or refund players. The outcome will determine how long purchased games remain playable after official support ceases.