California's New Law Could Save Abandoned Online Games from Disappearing
A new law in California aims to protect gamers from losing access to online games when servers shut down. The Protect Our Games Act (AB 1921) would force companies to warn players in advance and offer refunds or alternatives. But the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) is pushing back, claiming the bill could harm future game development. The bill, endorsed by advocacy group Stop Killing Games in April 2026, follows years of frustration over abandoned online titles. Fans of The Crew famously revived the game themselves after Ubisoft tried to close its servers. Other developers, like 1047 Games and Lunarch Studios, later added offline or peer-to-peer modes to Splitgate and Islands of Insight after shutting down official support.
Stop Killing Games has grown rapidly, going from a grassroots campaign to speaking at the European Parliament in just two years. Organiser Moritz Katzner stressed that AB 1921 doesn’t require endless server support—just fair notice and options for players. Meanwhile, Ubisoft recently added an offline mode to *The Crew 2*, a move that won praise from gamers. The ESA has a history of opposing game preservation efforts. In the past, it fought against DMCA exemptions that would let libraries and museums archive old games. Now, it argues that AB 1921 could slow down innovation by burdening developers with extra costs.
If passed, the law would mark a shift in how game companies handle server closures. Players would get advance warnings and possible refunds, while developers might face new legal obligations. The debate reflects growing tensions between preserving access to games and the industry’s push for new releases.
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