Publishers score US victory against Stop Killing Games

July 6, 2026 - 07:01

A bill that aimed to force game publishers to keep premium online titles playable after they are shut down has failed to pass a senate vote in the United States. The proposed legislation, known as the Protect Our Games Act, was introduced by California Assemblyman Chris Ward. It managed to get through the California State Assembly, but it could not clear the next hurdle in the state senate.

The bill was a direct response to the growing consumer campaign called Stop Killing Games. That movement has been fighting for the right of players to continue accessing premium online games even after the publisher decides to end support. The core argument is that when a company sells a game that requires an online server to function, and then shuts that server down, the product becomes worthless. Supporters of the bill wanted to require publishers to either release a patch to make the game playable offline or to transfer the game to a third party.

Publishers have consistently opposed such measures, arguing that they create legal and technical burdens. They claim that maintaining old server code or releasing it to the public can involve security risks, licensing issues, and unexpected costs. This latest victory in California reinforces their position that the market, not legislation, should decide the fate of older games.

Despite the setback, the Stop Killing Games campaign has not given up. Organizers have stated that they will try again with more funding and a revised strategy. They argue that the problem is only getting worse as more games become dependent on online connectivity. For now, however, publishers have scored a clear win in keeping the legal status quo.