U.S. Representative Ritchie Torres of New York plans to introduce the "Gamer Bill of Rights," which would require digital games to remain playable in an offline mode even after their online servers are shut down. The bill aims to address players' concerns about whether they will still be able to play digital games they have already purchased.
According to the current proposal, the bill would also grant buyers more complete ownership of their purchased digital content, addressing issues such as expiring game licenses, removal of titles from players' libraries, or games becoming unplayable.
The decline in physical game releases also forms part of the backdrop for this initiative. Reports that GTA VI will not have a physical edition, along with Sony's plan to stop producing physical game discs for titles released from January 2028 onward, have sparked backlash among players. Related coverage notes that players have expressed their demands through boycotts, protests, and seeking legal assistance.
Torres described the proposed legislation to Kotaku. It remains unclear whether other lawmakers will co-sponsor the bill, and its chances of passing are uncertain.