Pennsylvania is considering the "Protect Our Games Act," which would require publishers to give at least 60 days' notice before disabling games or changing core features and to offer one of three remedies: offline play, a patch that removes reliance on the publisher's online services, or a refund. Refunds would be based on the highest price charged in the prior 12 months and could not be below 25% of the original sale price; subscription-only access would be excluded. The bill—circulated in a Sept. 18 memo by Sen. John Kane—would be enforced by the Pennsylvania Attorney General and district attorneys and could serve as a template for other states.
Pennsylvania's 'Protect Our Games Act' Would Require Offline Play, Patches, or Refunds
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Pennsylvania is weighing the proposed "Protect Our Games Act," a consumer-protection measure that would force video game publishers to notify players in advance and provide meaningful remedies before ending the services required for a purchased game's normal play.
What the Proposal Would Do
60-Day Notice: Publishers could not remove access to a game or change core features without giving customers at least 60 days' advance notice.
Three Remedy Options: Before cutting support, companies would have to offer buyers at least one of the following: make the game playable offline; release a patch so the title can continue functioning online without relying on the publisher's own online services; or provide a refund.
Refund Calculation: Refunds would be based on the highest price the publisher charged for the game during the 12 months before the services stopped, and could not be less than 25% of the game's original sale price. The proposal would exclude purely subscription-based access when game availability is limited to the life of the subscription.
Context and Enforcement
The measure responds to growing concerns about license-based digital ownership: when players buy digital-only titles, they often receive a license rather than a standalone product, and companies can change or revoke access through their service terms. Senator John Kane (D) circulated a memo dated Sept. 18 seeking support for the draft bill, citing examples such as Sony's plan to stop producing PlayStation discs in 2028 as part of the broader shift toward account- and license-based distribution.
If enacted, enforcement would be handled by the Pennsylvania Attorney General and local district attorneys; the draft does not create a private right of action for individual purchasers.
Why It Matters
Rather than banning companies from altering services, the proposal aims to make those changes more transparent and to require concrete, consumer-friendly options when support ends. Advocates say it could become a model for other states grappling with digital ownership and consumer protections as more software and entertainment move from physical products to accounts and licenses.
Bottom line: The proposed law would require notice, force publishers to offer offline play, a dependency-removing patch, or a refund, and could reshape expectations for digital ownership if it advances beyond Pennsylvania.
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