US lawmaker calls videogame purchases rentals disguised as sales: 'When you pay for a game, you should own it'

US Representative Ritchie Torres, a Democrat from New York City, announced today that he will introduce the "Power To The Players Act."

If it becomes law, the bill will see the US Federal Trade Commission create regulations that protect our "ability to own and play" purchased games, according to Torres' office.

"When you pay for a game, you should own it," says Torres. "Consumers must have the right to own, the right to play, and the right to transfer the games they buy. A game that can be taken away the moment a company pulls the plug is not a purchase. It is a rental disguised as a sale."

The game ownership issue is longstanding on PC, which moved to digital distribution a couple decades ago, but has recently come to the foreground of public consciousness as the consoles also transition away from discs. Earlier this year, Sony announced that it will end physical disc production in 2028.

The related …