Power to the Players Act Could Require Offline Modes for Online-Only Games

Physical game discs do not necessarily solve the problem of game ownership. Many games sold on disc still require online servers to function, while end-user license agreements generally state that players are purchasing a revocable license rather than owning the software itself—even when the game files are stored on physical media.

In some cases, the version included on a disc is also significantly different from the game players ultimately experience after downloading patches. For these reasons, consumers and their representatives are increasingly looking to legislation that could encourage the video game industry to change how it handles digital ownership and game preservation.

Activist and lobbying groups such as Stop Killing Games are advocating for changes, while proposed bills around the world are exploring different ways to preserve access to purchased games.

How the proposed bill could address online-only games

Earlier proposals addressing this issue called for developers to keep game servers running indefinitely, prompting criticism that the bills did not adequately account for the cost of maintaining online services. The current bill appears to address some of those concerns, at least in its present form.

According to the announcement on Representative Ritchie Torres’ House website, the bill does not require online servers to remain active indefinitely. Instead, it would require games that are typically online-only to offer an offline mode, allowing players to continue using them for an extended period after the official servers shut down.

That requirement could create significant technical challenges. Some online games are designed around server-based systems and may not be able to support offline play without major changes. Developers could therefore need to rethink the architecture of certain online games from the beginning.

The legislation is still in its early stages

The proposal is not guaranteed to become law. It still has a long legislative process ahead, and most legislation addressing this issue has not yet reached a vote. The bill’s full text has also not been published, making it impossible to evaluate its effectiveness or enforceability in detail.

AI decompilation could reshape game preservation

Another major issue is emerging alongside the debate over digital ownership. Large language models and specialized coding tools have recently enabled a new wave of video game and software decompilation, including reconstructions of classic and contemporary games.

These projects are almost certainly illegal under current law, but their growing scale could make enforcement more difficult. New decompilation tools may significantly reshape discussions about software preservation and access in the coming months and years.