California Game Preservation Bill AB 1921 Clears Committee 11-2, Advancing to Assembly Floor Vote
Updated
Updated · Rock Paper Shotgun · May 15
California Game Preservation Bill AB 1921 Clears Committee 11-2, Advancing to Assembly Floor Vote
4 articles · Updated · Rock Paper Shotgun · May 15
AB 1921 cleared the California Assembly Appropriations Committee on May 14 by an 11-2 vote, with two abstentions, moving the game-preservation measure to a full Assembly floor vote.
The bill would require studios to keep games functional after server shutdowns or provide full refunds, a consumer-rights push backed by the Stop Killing Games campaign and opposed by the Entertainment Software Association.
Appropriations was a key hurdle because it reviews bills with fiscal impact on state government; AB 1921 passed in amended form after earlier wording revisions.
A simple Assembly majority would send the measure further through the legislature before it reaches Governor Gavin Newsom, who would have 12 days to sign, allow it without signing, or veto it.
If enacted, the law could become an early U.S. precedent for forcing end-of-life plans for online games and bolster similar efforts beyond California.
Beyond video games, could this California bill redefine ownership for all your digital media?
California is fighting to make games last forever. Who will ultimately pay the price for digital immortality?
If games can no longer be 'killed,' will developers be forced to stop creating them?