Rep. Ritchie Torres Wants Gamers to Own the Games They Buy, Announces Power To The Players Act
US Representative Ritchie Torres has announced the Power To The Players Act, a federal bill designed to ensure consumers truly own their video games instead of holding a revocable license. The legislation directs the Federal Trade Commission to establish regulations protecting consumer ownership and accessibility. Over recent years, the video game industry has shifted aggressively toward digital-only titles and online-dependent consoles, leaving buyers vulnerable to sudden server shutdowns and disappearing libraries.
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- ✓ US Representative Ritchie Torres announced plans to introduce the Power To The Players Act.
- ✓ The federal bill directs the Federal Trade Commission to write rules making a game purchase actual ownership rather than a revocable license.
- ✓ The legislation addresses the industry-wide shift toward digital-only games and consoles.
What changed
Representative Ritchie Torres officially announced and introduced the video game ownership legislation in Congress.
Live updates
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US Rep. Ritchie Torres Introduces Power To The Players Act
US Representative Ritchie Torres has announced the Power To The Players Act, a federal bill designed to ensure consumers truly own their video games instead of holding a revocable license. The legislation directs the Federal Trade Commission to establish regulations protecting consumer ownership and accessibility. Over recent years, the video game industry has shifted aggressively toward digital-only titles and online-dependent consoles, leaving buyers vulnerable to sudden server shutdowns and disappearing libraries.
Why it matters
Digital video game purchases have historically left consumers without permanent ownership rights, as publishers routinely rely on licenses that can be revoked at any time. This vulnerability became more pronounced as the industry transitioned away from physical media like discs toward downloadable files and cloud-dependent infrastructure. The proposed federal bill aims to legally address these consumer protection gaps.
What is confirmed
- US Representative Ritchie Torres announced plans to introduce the Power To The Players Act.
- The federal bill directs the Federal Trade Commission to write rules making a game purchase actual ownership rather than a revocable license.
- The legislation addresses the industry-wide shift toward digital-only games and consoles.
Still unconfirmed
- The Power to the Players Act arrives as Sony prepares to end PlayStation discs.
What to watch next
- Federal Trade Commission rulemaking responses
- Congressional committee assignments and hearings for the bill
confidence 95%Sources used for this update (12)
- Ars Technica — US Rep proposes bill to give video game buyers "ownership," not "a license"
- House.gov — Rep. Torres Announces Power To The Players Act, Legislation to Ensure Gamers Own Their Games
- TechPowerUp — Rep. Ritchie Torres Wants Gamers to Own the Games They Buy, Announces Power To The Players Act
- The Verge — Video game ownership bill introduced in Congress
- Yahoo — New York Rep Introduces Bill That Could Keep Games Playable for Longer
- www.polygon.com — US Representative Introduces Plan To Preserve Digital Game ...
- www.theqgentleman.com — Rep. Ritchie Torres Introduces ‘Power to the Players Act’ to ...
- www.techpowerup.com — Rep. Ritchie Torres Wants Gamers to Own the Games They Buy ...
- ritchietorres.house.gov — Rep. Torres Announces Power To The Players Act, Legislation ...
- usreporter.com — Rep. Ritchie Torres Announces Power to the Players Act to ...
- finance.yahoo.com — Rep. Ritchie Torres unveils Power to The Players Act to stop ...
- www.thetechedvocate.org — The Troubling Truth About Your Digital Games Ownership
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