An act to add Chapter 6.8 (commencing with Section 20660) to Division 8 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to business.
AB 1921, the Protect Our Games Act, would add a new chapter to the Business and Professions Code governing digital games that depend on operator-controlled services to function normally. For digital games first sold or rereleased on or after January 1, 2027, the bill would require operators to give purchasers and prospective purchasers 60 days’ notice before shutting down services needed for the game’s ordinary use. That notice would have to identify the shutdown date, what services and features will end, any known security risks, and how consumers can keep using the game or seek a refund.
Once those necessary services cease, the operator would have to provide either an independent version of the game, a patch or update that makes the game usable without the operator’s services, or a full refund. The bill would also prohibit continued sale, lease, or distribution of a version that cannot be used independently of operator-controlled services after shutdown. Enforcement would be limited to civil actions brought by the Attorney General or a district attorney.
The bill would create new consumer-protection obligations for publishers, developers, and other entities that control authentication, server access, digital rights management, or required updates for digital games. It would not apply to subscription-only access, free games, or games sold in a way that cannot be revoked after purchase, such as permanent offline downloads. If enacted, it would effectively require some games to remain playable after live-service support ends or require compensation to purchasers, changing how digital games are marketed, supported, and sunset in California.
The available voting history suggests the bill has received meaningful support in committee, with two recorded do-pass votes advancing it on a majority basis. At the same time, the bill’s later status indicates it encountered procedural or substantive difficulty in committee, where it was set for first hearing, failed passage, and reconsideration was granted. Overall, the sentiment appears generally favorable among some legislators, but not strong or settled enough to move cleanly through committee.
The main point of contention is the bill’s effect on the digital game industry’s ability to discontinue online services and retire games that rely on servers, authentication, or digital rights management. Supporters are likely focused on consumer expectations, preservation of access, and fairness when a purchased game becomes unusable, while opponents or skeptics may be concerned about the cost and technical burden of maintaining offline functionality, issuing patches, or providing refunds. The exceptions for subscriptions, free games, and permanent offline downloads suggest the bill tries to narrow its reach, but the scope of the shutdown obligations remains the central issue.