Stop Killing Games, the campaign group dedicated to preventing online titles from being rendered unplayable when publishers switch off servers, has announced support for a Californian bill that in its current form would force companies to either update games so they continue to work independently after server shutdowns or provide full refunds to affected players.

The campaign said the proposed legislation, reported by Rock Paper Shotgun, would require studios operating under Californian jurisdiction to deliver downloadable or offline-capable versions of games prior to decommissioning online services, or to reimburse purchasers in full. Stop Killing Games framed the move as a bid to protect game preservation and consumer rights against the commercial decision to retire live services.

Sponsored

Stop Killing Games also indicated that efforts in the UK remain active. The group said it was invited to advise the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) last week, describing domestic work as "far from dead in the water" and signalling continued engagement with policymakers in Westminster.

The campaign has previously argued that server-dependent titles risk being lost to history when publishers end their online services, leaving single‑player or community modes inaccessible. Support for the Californian bill represents the organisation's first public endorsement of concrete statutory measures intended to compel publishers to preserve offline functionality or return consumer payments.

Industry responses to similar proposals have warned of technical and commercial challenges, including costs, contractual restrictions with third parties, and dependencies on online-only architectures. Proponents counter that clear legal requirements would incentivise planning for preservation and reduce the large-scale loss of playable games.

The California bill remains subject to amendment and full legislative consideration. The campaign's backing and its engagement with the DCMS underline growing political attention on how to ensure long-term access to digital games as live services are retired.

Report: Rock Paper Shotgun.