Power Up Gaming founder Chris Mawson has appeared on Arizona’s Family to discuss game ownership, as a proposed US law seeks to protect players’ access to the games they buy.
The Good Morning Arizona report examines the move from physical releases to digital downloads and the questions it raises about long-term access.
Speaking to reporter Susan Campbell, Mawson described the relationship between publishers and players as “a push and pull between the conglomerates and the consumer”. He also discussed how purchasing a game can grant a licence to play it, with access subject to conditions.
The report comes after New York congressman Ritchie Torres announced the Power To The Players Act, a proposal intended to strengthen consumers’ rights over purchased games.
According to Torres’ announcement, the legislation would direct the Federal Trade Commission to establish rules protecting players’ ability to own and play their purchases. His stated aims include ownership rather than a revocable licence, alongside the ability to resell games.
Games with online functionality would also be required to offer an offline mode before their supporting servers are shut down.
“When you pay for a game, you should own it,” Torres said.
The AZ Family (3TV and CBS 5) segment also visits Rampage Games in Phoenix, where customers continue to buy and collect physical releases. That perspective sits alongside the wider discussion about digital convenience and what happens to purchased games when companies end support.
You can watch Mawson’s appearance in the clip above, or see Susan Campbell’s full report on Arizona’s Family.
