The California State Assembly has made a notable advancement in the realm of game preservation with the recent passage of the Protect Our Games Act, also referred to as the AB 1921 bill. In a video shared on Stop Killing Games’ YouTube channel, Assembly Member Chris Ward announced that the bill secured a vote of 43 to 16 in favor of its progression.
Significant Milestones for Game Preservation
This legislative achievement marks yet another pivotal moment for Stop Killing Games, which gained momentum earlier this year following Ubisoft’s decision to de-list its online racing game, The Crew. This move left many players without access to a game they had invested time and resources into. In April, the organization’s founder, Ross Scott, along with Moritz Katzner, presented their case to the European Parliament, receiving a warm reception from the committee. A response to this hearing is anticipated in the coming weeks.
In February, Stop Killing Games took proactive steps by announcing the establishment of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in both the EU and the US. These entities aim to engage in long-term counter-lobbying efforts regarding the increasingly pressing issue of game shutdowns.
The passage of the Protect Our Games Act through the California State Assembly is merely the initial phase in its legislative journey. The bill now heads to the California State Senate, where it will seek to garner additional support. However, it faces opposition from key players, notably the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the trade association representing the US video game industry, along with the organizers of the now-defunct E3 expo.
Earlier this month, the ESA expressed its concerns regarding the bill, arguing that it could divert developers’ limited resources towards maintaining outdated systems rather than focusing on the creation of new games and technologies. In response, Stop Killing Games emphasized that this struggle mirrors similar battles in Europe, where a grassroots consumer movement is advocating for fundamental end-of-life protections against industry lobbying efforts aimed at preserving the right to sell games that may eventually become obsolete.
