{"rewrite":{"id":"r_346e281c79244376a365cef0","clusterId":"c_dedc1bca0b914e1b8e68e30a","slug":"california-assembly-passes-stop-killing-games-bill","model":"deepseek-v4-flash","headline":"California Assembly Passes Stop Killing Games Bill","summary":"The California State Assembly passed the \"Stop Killing Games\" bill, also called the Game Protection Bill, on May 27. The vote was 43 in favor, 16 against, and 21 absent. The bill targets digital games first sold or re-released on or after January 1, 2027, leaving existing online games unaffected. It requires game companies to notify players at least 60 days before terminating server-dependent games. After service ends, companies must provide an alternative version, patch, or update to purchasers, or offer a full refund. The bill also prohibits the sale, rental, or distribution of game versions that cannot function without the operator's managed services. The legislation now moves to the California State Senate for further deliberation and voting.","whyItMatters":"The bill's narrow scope-applying only to new or re-released titles from 2027 onward-means it will not affect the vast library of existing online games, but it sets a legal precedent for consumer protections in digital game preservation.","webCardHtml":"\u003cp\u003eThe Game Protection Bill, part of the broader Stop Killing Games movement, cleared the California State Assembly on May 27 with a 43-16 vote and 21 abstentions. The legislation applies exclusively to digital games first sold or re-released on or after January 1, 2027, explicitly excluding all existing online titles from its requirements. Under the bill, companies must give players at least 60 days' notice before shutting down server-dependent games. After service termination, they must either provide a functional alternative version, patch, or update, or issue a full refund to purchasers. The bill also bans the sale, rental, or distribution of game versions that cannot operate without the operator's managed services. The bill now heads to the California State Senate for consideration.\u003c/p\u003e","blueskyPost":"The bill exempts every game sold before 2027. That covers the entire current catalog of live-service titles that players are most worried about losing.","twitterPost":"The bill exempts every game sold before 2027. That means the entire current live-service catalog is unprotected.","threadsPost":"The bill exempts every game sold before 2027. That covers the entire existing library of live-service titles, which is precisely the catalog players are most worried about losing. The protection starts only for games released or re-released from 2027 onward.","newsletterBlurb":"The California State Assembly passed the Stop Killing Games bill, requiring refunds or alternative versions for new digital games when servers shut down. The bill applies only to titles released from 2027 onward, leaving existing online games unaffected. It now moves to the state Senate.","attributionJson":"[{\"source\":\"Game Spark\",\"url\":\"http://www.gamespark.jp/article/2026/05/29/167096.html\",\"title\":\"【Stop Killing Games】\\\"Game Protection Bill\\\" Passes California State Assembly - Includes Mandatory Refunds or Alternative Provision Upon Service Termination\"},{\"source\":\"GameBusiness.jp\",\"url\":\"https://www.gamebusiness.jp/article/2026/05/29/27071.html\",\"title\":\"\\\"Stop Killing Games\\\" Bill Passes California State Assembly, Mandating Refunds or Alternative Provision Upon Service Termination\"}]","lintFlagsJson":"[]","lintHits":0,"costUsd":0,"inputTokens":4527,"outputTokens":693,"status":"published","repairAttempts":0,"nextRepairAt":null,"factsAttemptedAt":1780029120,"createdAt":"2026-05-29T04:31:56.000Z","publishedAt":"2026-05-29T04:45:27.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-05-29T04:45:27.000Z"},"cluster":{"id":"c_dedc1bca0b914e1b8e68e30a","canonicalTitle":"【Stop Killing Games】「ゲーム保護法案」が米カリフォルニア州下院本会議を通過―サービス終了時の返金や代替提供の義務化を盛り込んだ内容に","representativeArticleId":"a_0aa515d82c3071b32776813e","sourceCount":3,"writtenSourceCount":2,"writeAttempts":0,"isSolo":false,"entitiesJson":"{\"anime_titles\":[],\"manga_titles\":[],\"work_titles\":[],\"studios\":[],\"people\":[],\"type\":\"news\",\"domain\":\"games\",\"is_roundup\":false}","contentType":"news","status":"published","firstSeenAt":"2026-05-29T02:20:33.000Z","lastSeenAt":"2026-05-29T11:44:00.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-05-29T11:46:06.000Z"},"attribution":[{"source":"4Gamer.net","url":"https://www.4gamer.net/games/999/G999905/20260529050/","title":"消費者運動「Stop Killing Games」関連法案AB 1921，米カリフォルニア州下院本会議で可決"},{"source":"GameBusiness.jp","url":"https://www.gamebusiness.jp/article/2026/05/29/27071.html","title":"【Stop Killing Games】「ゲーム保護法案」が米カリフォルニア州下院本会議を通過―サービス終了時の返金や代替提供の義務化を盛り込んだ内容に"},{"source":"Game Spark","url":"http://www.gamespark.jp/article/2026/05/29/167096.html","title":"【Stop Killing Games】「ゲーム保護法案」が米カリフォルニア州下院本会議を通過―サービス終了時の返金や代替提供の義務化を盛り込んだ内容に"}],"entities":{"anime_titles":[],"manga_titles":[],"work_titles":[],"studios":[],"people":[],"type":"news","domain":"games","is_roundup":false},"keyFacts":["The California State Assembly passed the Stop Killing Games bill on May 27 with a vote of 43 in favor, 16 against, and 21 absent.","The bill applies only to digital games first sold or re-released on or after January 1, 2027, leaving existing online games unaffected.","Companies must notify players at least 60 days before terminating server-dependent games and provide an alternative version, patch, or update, or offer a full refund.","The bill prohibits the sale, rental, or distribution of game versions that cannot function without the operator's managed services.","The legislation now moves to the California State Senate for further deliberation and voting."]}