Rep. Ritchie Torres Announces Congressional Legislation To Protect Video Game Ownership: ‘If You Pay For It, You Own It’

U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres, a Democrat from New York, says he plans to introduce the Power To The Players Act, legislation that would direct the Federal Trade Commission to create rules protecting consumers’ access to purchased video games. The proposal would address games that can become unplayable when publishers shut down online services, but it has not yet been formally introduced in Congress.

As described by Torres to Kotaku, the bill would require companies selling digital games to grant consumers more than a license that can expire. It would also require games with online features to include offline modes that remain functional after a publisher shuts down the servers. The FTC would be tasked with developing regulations, though the source report did not provide draft legislative language or a timetable for those rules.

The announcement comes amid concern over the future of NBA 2K25. Kotaku reported that publisher 2K Games said the game will be removed from digital storefronts on October 30, with its online servers scheduled to close on January 1, 2027. The report says the closure would make the game’s most popular modes unavailable. Torres told Kotaku he did not buy NBA 2K25, but cited the case as an example of the ownership issue the proposal would address.

In a press release, Torres said consumers should be able to own, play and transfer games they buy. His proposal, as described in the report, focuses on video games rather than other digital media. Torres said he hopes it could eventually inform protections elsewhere in the digital economy, but that is a stated aspiration, not a provision described in the bill.

What the Proposal Could Change

If enacted in a form matching Torres’s description, the measure could change what consumers are entitled to when they purchase digital games, especially titles whose online functions depend on publisher-operated servers. A requirement for usable offline play could limit the risk that a game’s core content becomes inaccessible solely because a company ends support. The proposal also puts digital ownership and long-term access on the federal policy agenda.

The issue matters to players who spend money on games and time building progress in them, as well as families purchasing titles for ongoing use. Torres framed the proposal as an affordability concern: people may pay for a game but lose access to key functions when its publisher moves on. The practical effect would depend on the bill’s wording, the FTC’s eventual rules and how those requirements apply to different game designs.

From Game Shutdowns to Legislation

The proposal follows advocacy by the Stop Killing Games campaign, which has called for companies not to sell games that can become entirely unplayable after online support ends. The debate has gained attention as more games are sold digitally and consumers have fewer physical alternatives. The source report also pointed to concerns about a possible shift toward all-digital console purchases and boxed products that contain download codes rather than game discs.

Torres characterized his proposal as a return to what he called the historical norm of buying and continuing to play games, rather than a radical change. He told Kotaku that he grew up playing series including Grand Theft Auto, Resident Evil and SOCOM. The bill’s proposed scope, however, is limited to video games; Torres said other digital media could be considered separately.

“I think there should be a simple rule: if you pay for it, you own it.”

— Rep. Ritchie Torres, speaking to Kotaku

Bill Details Still Pending

The proposal’s final text, formal introduction date and potential co-sponsors have not been confirmed. Torres did not tell Kotaku whether any lawmakers from either party would support it. The available description gives the bill’s broad aims, but does not specify how offline modes would be defined, what exceptions might apply, or how enforcement and penalties would work.

It is also unclear whether the proposal would advance through Congress. Once formally introduced, it would face the committee process before any possible full House vote. Torres’s announcement is a plan to introduce legislation, not a change in current consumer rights or a guarantee that the bill will become law.

Formal Introduction and Committee Review

The next concrete step is for Torres to formally introduce the Power To The Players Act in Congress. Its text and any co-sponsors would clarify the scope of the proposed protections. If introduced, the legislation would then move through the relevant committee process; no committee schedule, hearing or vote date was provided in the source report.

Key Questions

What is the Power To The Players Act?

It is legislation Rep. Ritchie Torres says he plans to introduce. As described to Kotaku, it would direct the FTC to create rules protecting video game ownership and require offline functionality for games with online features after servers shut down.

Has the bill been introduced or passed?

No. Torres announced plans to introduce it, but formal introduction is still pending. It has not passed Congress and does not currently change consumer rights.

Would the bill cover movies and music?

Not as described in the source report. The proposal focuses on video games. Torres said he hopes it could set a precedent for other digital media, but that is not a stated provision of this bill.

What happens to NBA 2K25’s online services?

Kotaku reported that 2K Games plans to delist NBA 2K25 on October 30 and shut down its servers on January 1, 2027. The report says the shutdown would make the game’s most popular modes unavailable.

Source: fediverse