Game protection legislation and the Stop Killing Games movement

Recent developments around the Stop Killing Games movement have led to the California State Assembly approving the Protect Our Games Act. The bill, AB 1921, is aimed at protecting consumer rights and comes in response to Ubisoft’s decision to shut down the servers for its popular game The Crew. That move has raised concerns among gamers about the future of digital gameplay and access to titles they have already purchased.

Background to the legislation

The Protect Our Games Act was driven by the many reactions from gamers who wanted to prevent their purchases from becoming worthless after a server shutdown. The legislation requires game companies to announce at least 60 days in advance when they plan to end support for server-dependent games. That gives players time to prepare for the end of service. The bill would also require companies to provide ways to keep purchased games playable, either through offline access or by enabling community servers.

Motivation behind the Stop Killing Games movement

The origins of the Stop Killing Games movement go back to growing frustration among gamers. After Ubisoft announced that it would shut down The Crew’s servers in March 2026, debate intensified over the need for game preservation rules. Chris Ward, a member of the California State Assembly, stressed the importance of the legislation by pointing to the impact on consumers who had only recently bought games.

Impact of bill AB-1921

The Protect Our Games Act was approved by the State Assembly by a vote of 43 to 16, with most supporters coming from the Democratic Party, plus two Republican votes. The opposing votes included one Democrat and fifteen Republicans. The bill has now been sent to the California Senate, where it will be further reviewed.

Industry reaction

The passage of the Protect Our Games Act has sparked concern within the video game industry. European trade body Video Games Europe, which represents companies such as Ubisoft, Take-Two, and Activision Blizzard, has warned that the bill’s requirements could make games "too expensive to make." The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has also voiced concerns, saying that this kind of legislation could hinder the development of new and innovative games because developers would need to spend more time and resources maintaining older systems.

The Stop Killing Games movement remains important for gamers who want continued access to their digital purchases, even after server support ends. This is a crucial moment in the fight for video game preservation and could lead to changes in how publishers handle their digital titles in the future.