TechPolitics
Video game ownership bill introduced in Congress
Publication: The Verge
Author: Terrence O’Brien
Source published: 18/10/2026, 16:27:51 UTC
Briefing created: 18/10/2026, 16:41:35 UTC
Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 18/10/2026, 16:31:24 UTC.
Briefings
Congress introduced the Power To The Players Act on October 18, 2026, to mandate consumer ownership of video games upon purchase, preventing server shutdowns from rendering titles unplayable. Representative Ritchie Torres of New York's 15th district proposed this legislation, citing NBA 2K25 as a recent example where the game was scheduled for delisting and server closure. The bill aims to resolve the disconnect between game sales and server maintenance, though its passage remains uncertain.
Key points
- Rep. Ritchie Torres introduced the Power To The Players Act on October 18, 2026, to require consumers to own video games when purchased, preventing server shutdowns from making titles unplayable.
- The bill targets the disconnect between game sales and server maintenance, using NBA 2K25 as a recent example where the game was scheduled for delisting and server closure.
Context
This legislation addresses a growing issue where game sales are decoupled from server maintenance, causing titles to become unplayable after shutdowns. The bill seeks to ensure consumer ownership of games, a trend increasingly common in the industry.
Limitations
Evidence is limited to a single article from October 2026. Specific dates for the game's delisting and server closure are not provided, and the bill's passage status remains uncertain without further confirmation.
Generated by Bittrees-hosted qwen35-2b sha256:aaf42c8b7c3c on 18/10/2026, 16:41:35 UTC. Based on publisher-provided feed evidence; may not cover the full original article. Check the source for details.
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