Stop Killing Games Bill Faces Enforcement Hurdles

California Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin introduced a bill in December 2024, backed by the Stop Killing Games campaign, to regulate the shutdown of online-only video games. The proposed legislation targets a “duty to rehabilitate,” requiring publishers to either maintain game functionality or clearly disclose at purchase that the product is a revocable license. According to an interview by Aftermath, Irwin admitted that enforcement will rely heavily on reactive measures by the California Attorney General and consumer complaints, posing significant practical hurdles.

Key Facts

What specific challenges does the California video game bill face regarding enforcement?

Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin stated that enforcing the California bill targeting online game shutdowns will be difficult because it is largely reactive, relying on consumer complaints and the California Attorney General’s office to pursue cases. The primary source provides no specific percentages or financial costs associated with enforcement, only qualitative challenges.

“It’s not going to be an easy thing to enforce. A lot of it is reactive. It’ll rely on the consumer, it’ll rely on the Attorney General…” — Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, as told to Aftermath

The reactive, consumer-driven enforcement model creates a significant burden of proof and action on the individual purchaser rather than the publisher.

How does the proposed California bill hold publishers accountable for game shutdowns?

The bill targets a “duty to rehabilitate,” requiring publishers that sell online-only games to either keep them accessible, release patches to make them playable offline, or face legal action for false advertising. This expands on the previous effort, AB 2426, which focused solely on false advertising regarding the nature of a digital license.

“The bill specifically targets games that require an online connection to be played.” — Ed Nightingale, Rock Paper Shotgun

The legislation explicitly targets the “duty to rehabilitate” or keeping games playable, expanding consumer protections beyond simple disclosure.

What prompted the introduction of the Stop Killing Games bill in California?

The bill was introduced following significant consumer backlash and the advocacy of the Stop Killing Games campaign, largely triggered by Ubisoft’s shutdown of The Crew in 2024. The campaign directly references this shutdown as a primary example of consumer harm caused by rendering a purchased game unplayable.

“Stop Killing Games is a direct reference to the sentiment… the campaign, which organizes consumers against the shutdown of online games, has directly lobbied for and backed the California bill.” — Ed Nightingale, Rock Paper Shotgun

The Stop Killing Games campaign and the resulting California bill were directly precipitated by the 2024 shutdown of Ubisoft’s The Crew.

Who Is This Bill Designed To Protect?

The bill is designed to protect consumers who purchase digital games that require an online connection from having their access revoked arbitrarily by publishers without recourse. It applies to the publisher and digital storefront ecosystem, holding them accountable for product longevity after purchase.

Unlike the previous California bill focused on false advertising, the new legislation imposes a positive duty on publishers to maintain the playability of online-only games.

Common Questions

How would the California Attorney General enforce the game shutdown bill?

Enforcement of the bill would be reactive, relying primarily on consumer complaints filed with the California Attorney General’s office, rather than proactive state investigation.

Does the bill guarantee that every online game will remain playable forever?

No. The bill requires publishers to either disclose that the game is a revocable license or make a reasonable effort to maintain functionality, but Irwin acknowledged that bankruptcy or excessive costs could still prevent this.

What was the role of the campaign in this legislation?

The Stop Killing Games campaign organized consumers against the shutdown of online games and directly lobbied for the California bill, which Assemblymember Irwin cited as a driving force.

Sources and Methodology

This article is based on a single primary source: “Stop Killing Games backed California bill targeting online game shutdowns isn’t going to be an easy thing to enforce, says the politician behind it” by Ed Nightingale, published on Rock Paper Shotgun on December 12, 2024. The article synthesizes the reported statements of Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin and the context of the Stop Killing Games campaign. This article was last updated on December 12, 2024.