# Congress moves to guarantee game ownership

> A new bill would stop companies from taking away games when they shut down servers.
- Title: Congress moves to guarantee game ownership · The Verge
- Summary: A new bill would stop companies from taking away games when they shut down servers. Rep. Ritchie Torres introduced the Power To The Players Act to guarantee…
- Keywords: power to the players act, ritchie torres, video game ownership, federal trade commission, server shutdowns, nba 2k25, technology, culture, Congress, moves, guarantee, game
- Source: The Verge — https://theverge.com/policy/1013521/video-game-ownership-bill-congress-power-to-the-players-act
- Author: Terrence O'Brien
- Published: 2026-10-18T16:27:51+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: power to the players act, ritchie torres, video game ownership, federal trade commission, server shutdowns, nba 2k25, technology, culture
## Torres introduces ownership bill
Rep.Ritchie Torres of New York's 15th congressional district introduced the Power To The Players Act this week.
## Server shutdowns make games unplayable
Games increasingly require server connections.When companies shut down those servers, the games often become unplayable.Rep.Torres cites NBA 2K25 as a recent example.
## Torres on ownership versus rental
In a statement announcing the bill, Rep. Torres said, "A game that can be taken away the moment a company pulls the plug is not a purchase. It is a rental disguised as a sale."

> A game that can be taken away the moment a company pulls the plug is not a purchase. It is a rental disguised as a sale.
## Bill requires offline mode before shutdown
The bill would require developers to institute an offline mode before shutting down supporting servers.A similar Pennsylvania bill by State Sen.
## Key takeaway

Rep. Ritchie Torres introduced the Power To The Players Act to guarantee consumers own games they buy rather than license them, addressing server shutdowns that render titles unplayable.