As a long-time gamer and digital content consumer, I wholeheartedly welcome this new law signed by Governor Gavin Newsom. Over the years, I’ve seen my favorite games and series vanish into thin air due to store closures or server shutdowns, leaving me with nothing but memories and an empty library.
Under a fresh piece of legislation in the United States, companies such as Ubisoft, PlayStation, Nintendo, among others, are now required to explicitly state whether purchasers retain ownership of a digital game following its acquisition from an online marketplace.
For a while now, numerous gamers and anime enthusiasts have faced the stark truth about possessing digital versions of their preferred games and shows, realizing just how simple it can be for online stores to eliminate access to them.
When Crunchyroll combined with Funimation, all the digital collections that Funimation users had paid for were erased. Then, in April 2024, Ubisoft made The Crew impossible to play by shutting down its servers and removing it from players’ libraries.
Different gaming platforms such as PlayStation and Nintendo have removed certain games from users’ collections when their online stores shut down (like the Wii U and 3DS digital storefronts) or because they faced problems with content licensing.
In response to this issue, Governor Gavin Newsom of California has enacted a new law requiring all online marketplaces, including gaming and video streaming platforms, to clearly indicate whether the product purchased provides ownership rights or not.
As a passionate advocate, I’d rephrase that clause to say: “This legislation intends to prevent digital product vendors from promoting or selling goods that might lead a rational buyer to believe they are purchasing unlimited rights or ownership of the digital item.
In simpler terms, this rule requires online marketplaces offering digital goods, such as Nintendo, PlayStation, and Steam, to clearly indicate whether you’re buying the full ownership of a product (like a game) or if it’s just a temporary rental with a time limit.
This guideline essentially clarifies that when purchasing a game from a physical store, there’s a possibility it could be removed or taken down at some point in the future, similar to what has occurred in past situations.
It is essential for storefronts to inform customers, by law, whenever they purchase a product that might later get removed from their digital collections or libraries.
Yet, this regulation doesn’t apply to physical stores where purchasers can permanently save files onto an external device without requiring an active internet connection.
Absolutely, what this implies is that live-service games exist in a sort of limbo, because while you can download and initially play them, the servers could potentially be taken offline at any time by the publisher. This action would make the game unplayable, leaving me (and other players) in a frustrating predicament.
While this law primarily applies within California, it’s not unthinkable for it to extend to other states or even nations. Just like when the European Union required all electronics to utilize USB-C, manufacturers globally made the switch.
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2024-09-27 08:49