The Entertainment Software Association has spoken out against a proposed consumer protection law in California that would require game companies to offer offline versions, patches, or refunds when online services end.
The bill, known as AB 1921, remains pending hearings and votes and has not taken effect. It would mandate 60 days' notice before online services cease for digital games, along with options for continued play or compensation to buyers.
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A federal judge in the Northern District of California has granted preliminary approval to a $7.85 million class-action settlement against Sony Interactive Entertainment over alleged anticompetitive practices on the PlayStation Store. Eligible US PlayStation Network users who bought certain digital games or vouchers from April 1, 2019, to December 31, 2023, could receive automatic store credits or refunds, even if accounts are inactive (contact lawyers if former user). A final fairness hearing is set for October 15, 2026.
The Stop Killing Games campaign presented its case to the European Parliament, receiving a favorable response from officials. Committee vice chair Nils Ušakovs highlighted concerns over games becoming unplayable after purchase due to discontinued services. Officials pledged further investigation into consumer protections for digital games.
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New demonstrations confirm the 30-day internet check DRM affects both PS4 and PS5 digital games bought after March, as initially reported last week. Content creators replicated license blocks after offline simulations, while PlayStation Support has given conflicting answers. Sony remains silent.
Digital rights groups have criticized a proposed Wisconsin bill that includes provisions to ban VPN use for age verification. The Electronic Frontier Foundation describes the measure as unworkable. Lawmakers are set to discuss the controversial proposal on February 18.
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Building on our earlier coverage of California's Digital Age Assurance Act (AB 1043)—signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in October 2025 and effective January 1, 2027—the law's requirements for age data collection and API sharing pose steep compliance hurdles for volunteer-driven open-source operating systems like Ubuntu, Debian, Arch Linux, and SteamOS.
Electronic Arts has laid off an unspecified number of developers across its Battlefield studios—including DICE, Criterion, Ripple Effect, and Motive—despite Battlefield 6's strong 2025 sales. The move, announced March 9, 2026, realigns teams around community priorities following developers' February comments on post-launch player decline. Affected studios will continue live-service updates.
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The Stop Killing Games campaign, led by Ross Scott, plans to create non-governmental organizations in the European Union and the United States to combat publishers ending support for purchased video games. These NGOs will focus on long-term counter lobbying and watchdog activities. The initiative follows the campaign's success in gathering over a million signatures on its petition.