The California State Assembly passes AB 1921, Stop Killing Games’ Protect Our Games Act

The California State Assembly has passed Assembly Bill 1921, known as the Protect Our Games Act, in a landmark 43-16 bipartisan vote. The bill, championed by San Diego Assembly Member Chris Ward, represents a significant victory for the Stop Killing Games consumer movement, which emerged in response to Ubisoft’s shutdown of The Crew in 2024 — an action that removed the game not only from servers but also from players’ digital libraries.

The legislation would require video game publishers to provide players with advance notice before shutting down server-dependent games and mandate they maintain playability through offline access, community servers, or comparable solutions. Notably, the bill only applies to purchased games, excluding free-to-play titles.

The bill’s passage moves it to the California State Senate for committee debate in June, where it will face another voting round. If approved there, both chambers will work on finalizing the legislation before submission for gubernatorial review. However, the effort faces resistance from industry bodies like the Entertainment Software Association (ESA).

The Stop Killing Games movement argues that publishers should preserve access to games players have purchased, ensuring playability in perpetuity rather than allowing permanent removal at the publisher’s discretion. This represents a growing consumer concern about digital ownership rights and game preservation in an era increasingly dominated by online-dependent titles.

The California State Assembly passes AB 1921, Stop Killing Games’ Protect Our Games Act

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