The conversation around “what happens to your game after shutdown” is something that has been there for a long time, especially players unhappy about not getting back the experience they once enjoyed. The California bill, now backed by the Stop Killing Games movement, aims to make sure games don’t just disappear once servers go offline.
The proposed “Protect Our Games Act” (AB 1921) would require publishers to give at least 60 days’ notice before shutting down a digital game, and more importantly, either provide an offline version or offer refunds if the game becomes unplayable.
As per the details available, it would apply to games sold after January 1, 2027, and also asks publishers to stop selling games two months before shutdown.
This whole push started after cases like The Crew from Ubisoft, where a fully paid game became completely inaccessible. That’s where the Stop Killing Games campaign, started by Ross Scott in 2024, stepped in, arguing that buying a game should mean you can still access it in some form later.
That said, there are a few exceptions. Free-to-play games and subscription-based services aren’t covered in the same way, which could leave some room for companies to work around the rules if they really want to.
For a bit of context, the Stop Killing Games movement has been actively pushing for changes like this across multiple regions. The group has been involved in discussions around this California bill, working alongside lawmakers during its drafting. At the same time, similar efforts are happening in places like the UK and the EU, with meetings, hearings, and community campaigns aimed at protecting long-term access to games.
From a gaming perspective, this could be a big shift, especially for mobile games. We’ve seen how often titles just shut down and vanish, with no offline mode. Some offer refunds for purchases, but it has been a rare case.
From my perspective, this is a step in the right direction. We’ve seen too many games just vanish, especially on mobile, where shutdowns are pretty common. Not every game needs to live forever, but having some form of access after shutdown, or at least a fair refund for the premium offerings, makes sense.
