Plain English Breakdown
The official status label says 'Passed Legislature' while the last action notes indicate it failed passage and was reconsidered; this creates uncertainty about whether the law is currently active.
Digital Games: Ordinary Use
This law requires game operators to tell players at least 60 days before stopping services needed for normal play and offers options like refunds or offline versions when that happens.
What This Bill Does
- Requires digital game operators to send information to buyers 60 days before they stop providing services necessary for the ordinary use of a game.
- Mandates that, starting on the day service stops, operators provide an alternate version, a patch or update, or a refund for the game.
- Prohibits selling, leasing, or distributing versions of games that cannot be used without ongoing services controlled by the operator.
- Allows the Attorney General or district attorneys to file civil lawsuits against those who break these rules.
Who It Names or Affects
- Operators and sellers of digital games first available for purchase on or after January 1, 2028.
- Purchasers and potential buyers of the covered digital games.
- The Attorney General and district attorneys who may enforce these rules.
Terms To Know
- Digital game operator
- A company or person that sells, distributes, or manages a video game accessed on devices like computers, tablets, or gaming consoles.
- Ordinary use
- The normal way a player is expected to access and play the game without needing extra help from the seller's servers.
Limits and Unknowns
- This law only applies to digital games first sold or rereleased on or after January 1, 2028.
- The bill mentions certain exceptions but does not list what those specific exceptions are in the provided text.