California advances bill to keep online games playable after shutdowns

A California Assembly appropriations committee advanced the Protect Our Games Act, which would require digital game publishers to offer refunds or updated versions to keep games playable after online services end, and to notify players 60 days before shutdown; the measure would apply to paid games sold in California on or after January 1, 2027, with exemptions for completely free games and subscription-only titles. The bill, championed by Stop Killing Games and opposed by the Entertainment Software Association, still must clear both legislative chambers and gain the governor’s signature, and faces licensing and IP considerations that opponents argue could be problematic.