Pennsylvania Lawmaker Proposes Bill to Preserve Access to Digital Games After Server Shutdowns

Lawmakers in Pennsylvania are moving to safeguard the interests of video gamers in the state. The decision by Sony to halt physical disc manufacturing by 2028 has sparked significant backlash from players worried about the fate of games that exist only in digital form once publishers shut down their servers. In response, a state senator has introduced legislation designed to mandate that game publishers ensure continued playability of titles even after online services cease operation.

According to Local 21 News, Sen. John Kane (D) filed the Protect Our Games Act, which would obligate video game makers to provide customers with a minimum of 60 days' advance notice before discontinuing access to any game.

The bill specifies that companies must offer affected players at least one of the following remedies: enable offline play functionality, release a patch allowing the game to operate online without reliance on the publisher's servers, or issue a refund equal to the game's highest price during the preceding 12 months—with the refund amount not falling below 25 percent of the original purchase price. Should the legislation become law, it would provide meaningful protections to gamers who typically have little recourse when publishers decide to discontinue support for a title.