A Congressman Wants You to Own Your Digital Games. The Industry Has Other Ideas.

Democratic US Congressman Ritchie Torres has proposed the Power To The Players Act, a bill that would give buyers permanent rights to digital games rather than the revocable licenses they currently purchase. Torres announced the proposal in a press release dated October 15, 2026, framing it as a response to the impending removal of NBA 2K25 from digital storefronts.

What the bill would change

The legislation targets the core of the digital storefront model. Today, platforms such as Steam and Epic Games sell access under licenses that can be withdrawn. The Power To The Players Act would replace that arrangement with permanent ownership rights. It also includes an offline play requirement: games would have to remain playable after their online servers are shut down. And it would permit consumers to resell or transfer digital games, opening the door to a secondhand market that does not currently exist for most digital titles.

The Federal Trade Commission would be tasked with developing consumer protection regulations to implement the law. The exact legislative text and scope have not been made public, leaving open questions about how the FTC would enforce the rules.

Why NBA 2K25 triggered the proposal

NBA 2K25 is scheduled to be removed from digital stores on October 30, 2026, with its online servers shutting down the following day. The digital standard edition cost about €70. Its removal would leave parts of the game inaccessible, a situation Torres considers unacceptable. The game’s notice states that online features may be modified or discontinued, a standard warning that has become a flashpoint in the broader debate over digital ownership versus licensing.

The proposal arrives as Sony has announced the end of physical games, sharpening concerns that consumers will have no ownership path at all.

Technical hurdles and industry resistance

The offline play requirement is straightforward for single-player titles but difficult for online-only multiplayer games. Developers might need to rework games or allow self-hosting to comply. Resale raises its own problems. Account transfer systems on Steam and Epic Games could serve as a mechanism, but DRM-free games like those on GOG pose verification problems for resale.

Publishers have little incentive to support a secondhand digital market. Electronic Arts and Ubisoft are likely to oppose the changes. Publishers might also shift toward subscription services to avoid the requirements altogether.

Gamers welcome the idea, but doubt it becomes law

Reaction on Reddit was largely supportive, though many users doubted the bill would pass. Skeptics cited industry resistance and accused Torres of seeking political attention. Whether the bill will be formally introduced or passed remains unknown.