The California Assembly's appropriations committee approved the Protect Our Games Act on May 14, 2026, with an 11-2 vote, advancing the bill to a full Assembly floor vote next [1, 2, 3].
Introduced in February 2026 by Assemblymember Chris Ward, the bill targets digital game publishers. It requires them to either offer a full refund or provide an updated version that allows players to continue using online games independent of operator-controlled servers when support ends [1, 3].
Publishers must notify players at least 60 days in advance before shutting down services needed for normal gameplay, ensuring users can plan accordingly [1, 3]. The legislation applies only to games sold in California on or after January 1, 2027, and excludes games that are either completely free or available solely through subscription services [1, 3].
Stop Killing Games, a player advocacy group formed after the 2024 shutdown of Ubisoft's The Crew, helped draft and supports the bill. Monitz Katzner of Stop Killing Games said, "Back shortly before Christmas, when I flew to the US to help set up SKG-US, I didn’t expect us to get this far this quickly. It has been an honor to take part in drafting this bill on behalf of the SKG community: gamers, developers, and publishers alike" [1].
The bill aims to protect consumers from losing access to games they purchased after servers are shut down, preserving playable access and ensuring some form of compensation.
The Entertainment Software Association has voiced opposition to certain aspects of the proposal, reflecting mixed industry reactions [1, 2].
With committee approval secured on May 14, the bill now proceeds to the full California Assembly floor for a vote as part of the ongoing legislative process [1, 2, 3].
