California’s AB 1921 addresses a frustrating problem: paying for a game that later becomes unusable when its publisher shuts down required services. This is a proposal, rather than an established right to a refund.
The April 2026 version discussed in my original post would require an independent playable version, an enabling patch, or a full purchase-price refund. It also proposed advance notice explaining what would stop working and how purchasers could continue playing or request a refund.
Later amendments changed important details. The June 23 text uses January 1, 2028 for covered new or rereleased games and adds options involving private/community server documentation or server software. It also changes the refund calculation. Subscription access and free games are among the exceptions.
Read the official bill text and legislative status for the operative version. The original January 2027 date should not be treated as a current deadline.
I welcome the aim. Sports games and other annual franchises make the ownership problem particularly visible when older online features close. The practical question is which core features require the publisher’s servers and what a workable preservation option would look like. A local or community-server version could preserve more value than simply removing a store listing.
Adapted from the original Chinese article, published on April 16, 2026.
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