A bill in California has passed out of committee, requiring publishers to either refund players or update games for long-term play. The move comes despite industry pushback and is a significant victory for game preservation advocates.

The Protect Our Games Act, as it stands, mandates that digital game publishers provide full refunds or new versions of the game if they stop supporting online services. Players will also be notified 60 days before such support ceases. The bill won't apply to free games but will affect any other game sold in California from January 1, 2027.

Stop Killing Games (SKG), a UK-based player advocacy group, played a key role in drafting the bill. SKG’s Monitz Katzner expressed surprise at how quickly things have progressed since she helped set up the US branch of SKG earlier this year.

The battle over long-term access to digital games continues, with interest groups on both sides clashing. While some see it as a step towards better player rights, others worry about the costs and future of game development.