"When you pay for a game, you should own it:" U.S. lawmaker calls on FTC to guarantee ownership of digital games

The video game industry is becoming increasingly digital. Sony will soon end production of physical media for PlayStation,  the 'Stop Killing Games' movement continues to make headlines, and Grand Theft Auto VI (widely perceived as one of the most anticipated releases in entertainment history) will launch in retails stores—but, crucially, the box will contain a download code instead of a disc. 

Amid that shift, a U.S. lawmaker plans to introduce new legislation that will direct the Federal Trade Commission to establish regulations that protect consumers' ability to "own and play" the video games they purchase. It has been dubbed the 'Power To The Players Act.'

Ritchie Torres, a U.S. representative for New York's 15th congressional district, claims the move towards digital-only games that are sold as revocable licenses as opposed to being owned outright is leaving players at the mercy of companies who can choose to pull support for those products. 

He cited 2K Games' decision to end support for NBA 2K25 two years after the sports title launched as a "clear example" of that problem. 

In September, 2K confirmed the video game—which launched globally on September 6, 2024—will no longer be available for purchase from October 30, 2026, and that, from December 31, 2026, owners will only be able to access offline modes.

Torres argues that "no consumer should have a game they paid for pulled out from under them on a company’s arbitrary timeline." 

"When you pay for a game, you should own it," he added. "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."

The bill proposes that customers should be handed "consumer ownership" of a digital product as opposed to a license. It would also require games with online functionality to "provide an offline mode before" before its servers are shut down. It's unclear how that would impact online-only titles. 

"The legislation aims to close the gap between buying a game and owning it. By preserving consumers’ ability to own and resell their games, the bill would ensure that players can keep playing the games they paid for with friends and family for years to come," added Torres.

Vertical Slice has approached Torres for more information.