A Pennsylvania senator has proposed a law to protect gamers when publishers shut down digital games, requiring companies to offer an offline mode, an independent server patch, or a minimum 25 percent refund.

The proposal, reported on September 28, would also force publishers to give 60 days’ warning before discontinuing a game. It responds to growing anger over titles that become unplayable once official servers go dark.

As physical discs fade, players increasingly own licenses rather than games, and shutdowns can erase hundreds of dollars of purchases overnight. The bill aims to give that digital ownership real meaning.

The idea echoes campaigns in Europe and California pushing for games to remain playable after support ends. If Pennsylvania passes it, other states could follow, reshaping how the industry handles sunsetting.

Consumer advocates welcomed the proposal, calling digital ownership rights long overdue. Industry groups have not yet responded, but similar bills elsewhere have faced lobbying over implementation costs and feasibility.