Bill to block publishers from killing online games advances in California

California's Protect Our Games Act has cleared the Assembly appropriations committee with an 11–2 vote, advancing to a full floor vote. The bill would require game publishers to either issue full refunds or provide an offline-capable patch when shutting down online game servers. Publishers must also give 60 days' notice before ending services. The bill, effective January 1, 2027, excludes free-to-play games and subscription-only titles. It was shaped with input from the Stop Killing Games advocacy group, which formed after Ubisoft shut down The Crew in 2024, and passed despite opposition from the Entertainment Software Association.