California bill to preserve access to online games advances

A proposed law requiring game publishers to offer refunds or playable patches for supported online titles has cleared a major committee hurdle in the state Assembly. The measure, known as the Protect Our Games Act, would apply to games released on or after January 1, 2027.

Assemblymember Chris Ward introduced the bill in February 2026. It advanced through the Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee, the Judiciary Committee and the Appropriations Committee, where it passed by an 11-2 vote on May 14. The legislation now heads to a floor vote in the full Assembly.

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Governor Gavin Newsom signs California's Digital Age Assurance Act, requiring OS age verification for safer online content.
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California enacts Digital Age Assurance Act requiring OS age verification

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Following initial reports of an impending law, California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed AB 1043, the Digital Age Assurance Act, requiring operating system providers to collect users' ages during account setup and share via API with app developers. Effective January 1, 2027, it applies to major platforms like Windows, iOS, Android, macOS, SteamOS, and Linux distributions, aiming for age-appropriate content without biometrics.

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.

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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.

Two Nintendo customers have filed a class action lawsuit against the company, seeking refunds for higher prices paid due to now-invalidated tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. The suit, filed on April 21 in the United States District Court’s Western District of Washington, argues that Nintendo passed tariff costs to consumers while pursuing government refunds. As first reported by Aftermath, the plaintiffs aim to prevent Nintendo from profiting twice from the same payments.

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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.

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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Utah will become the first US state to prohibit using VPNs to bypass age-verification requirements on websites. Senate Bill 73 takes effect on Wednesday and holds sites liable for users masking their location while in the state. Privacy advocates warn of widespread disruptions to internet access.

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