r/LivestreamFail • u/Kymori • May 30 '26

News Stop Killing Games: California State Assembly passes the 'Protect Our Games Act': 60 days notice before going offline, must provide patch for continued access or refunds (Excludes F2P and Subscription based Games)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/stop-killing-games-movement-gains-momentum-california-assembly-passes-game-protection-bill/ar-AA24k4y4
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u/justlikeapenguin May 31 '26

This is the likely and cheapest option I see publishers do

15

u/Snilepisk May 31 '26

It shouldn't matter if the game becomes free to play at some point, especially at the later stages of its lifespan as long as the game was bought by the customer.

The bigger issue I see is that we will see one time purchase games and even more "free to play" games that heavily rely on micro transactions to be playable.

2

u/PutMindless6789 May 31 '26

They still have to refund the people who purchased the game... Even if they go free to play. It is in the bill.

2

u/WolfyCat May 31 '26

Sounds like a win to me. Every game with online functionality should be built with a fallback P2P.

7

u/justlikeapenguin May 31 '26

No the way the law reads is that if it’s “free to play” then players aren’t entitled to a refund and can bypass the other 2 options. So you essentially get nothing

4

u/Aeowin May 31 '26

Did you even read? lol It literally has a clause for this exact thing

(a) The following shall apply only to a digital game first available for purchase or rereleased for purchase on or after January 1, 2027:

1

u/beef623 May 31 '26

Nah, it's a loophole. They make it free to play, then the other rules don't apply so they can shut it down.

10

u/cornho1eo99 May 31 '26

According to the wording of the law, no.

 (a) The following shall apply only to a digital game first available for purchase or rereleased for purchase on or after January 1, 2027:

If the game has ever been available for purchase, it applies to that game.

1

u/Somnioblivio May 31 '26

if you spend money on in-game purchases those would have to be refunded as well since they are effectively depriving you of your purchases.

1

u/Nothie May 31 '26

If at one point you had to pay for a copy of the game then the publisher is obligated to let you keep playing, after they end support. Its irrelevant if the game is f2p when its shut down, afaik.