California Bill to Protect Online Games Fails in Senate Committee

A bill in California aimed at requiring game publishers to either provide a standalone version of their online games or issue full refunds upon server shutdown has not passed a key committee vote in the state senate. This setback halts the progress of the bill, known as AB 1921 or the Protect Our Games Act, which has garnered support from the Stop Killing Games campaign.

According to the latest update from campaigners shared on Reddit, the bill failed to secure enough votes during a hearing held by the Californian Senate's Business, Professions and Economic Development committee. Of the 11 members who cast votes, four supported the bill and three were opposed, resulting in insufficient backing for its advancement.

Despite this outcome, the committee noted that there is a possibility for reconsideration, indicating that the bill could have another chance to be voted on in the future. Following this challenge, representatives from the Stop Killing Games campaign expressed their surprise at how far they had come, emphasizing that even reaching this point was a significant achievement given their limited resources. They pointed out that this was their first attempt at legislative action in the United States, operating on a budget of zero dollars and relying solely on volunteers and emails.

The campaign noted, "This was our first attempt, in our first year, in the United States... We ran this on volunteers, emails and phone calls. And we still pushed a consumer rights bill through the entire state assembly and 43 to 16. We were only three votes away from this becoming law."

In light of the recent developments, the campaigners have acknowledged the effectiveness of the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) in their advocacy against the bill and have pledged to return for the next legislative session with a stronger presence. They plan to secure funding for in-person lobbying efforts and assemble a coalition of organizations and developers to support their cause.

Additionally, the Stop Killing Games campaign is considering introducing similar legislation in other states and is exploring opportunities at the federal level. Alongside their ongoing efforts, they have launched a new initiative called Stop Killing the Internet, aimed at opposing the UK's recent proposal to enforce age verification for social media users under 16 by 2027. This sister campaign is being developed in collaboration with established groups such as Big Brother Watch and Index on Censorship.

As the situation unfolds, the Stop Killing Games campaign remains committed to advocating for consumer rights in gaming and beyond.