AB 1921: Digital games: ordinary use.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing law requires every videogame retailer to post a sign, within the retail establishment in a prominent area, providing information to consumers about a videogame rating system or notifying consumers that a rating system is available to aid in the selection of a game and to make available to consumers, upon request, information that explains the videogame rating system.

Existing law, subject to certain exceptions, prohibits a seller of a digital good, including a digital application or game, from advertising or offering for sale a digital good to a purchaser with the terms “buy,” “purchase,” or any other term that a reasonable person would understand to confer an unrestricted ownership interest in the digital good, or alongside an option for a time-limited rental, unless the seller receives at the time of each transaction an affirmative acknowledgment from the purchaser, or the seller provides to the consumer before executing each transaction a clear and conspicuous statement, as specified. Existing law defines “digital application or game” to mean any application or game that a person accesses and manipulates using a specialized electronic gaming device, computer, mobile device, tablet, or other device with a display screen, including any add-ons or additional content for that application or game.

This bill, with regard to digital games first available for purchase or rereleased for purchase on or after January 1, 2028, and subject to certain exceptions, would require a digital game operator to communicate specified information to purchasers and prospective purchasers of a digital game 60 days before the operator ceases to provide services necessary for the ordinary use of the game. The bill would, beginning on the date an operator ceases to provide services necessary for the ordinary use of the game, require the operator to provide the purchaser with, among other things, an alternate version of, a patch or update to, or a refund for, the game, as provided, and prohibit the operator from selling, leasing, or otherwise distributing a version of the game that cannot be used by a purchaser independent of services controlled by the operator. The bill would authorize the Attorney General or a district attorney to bring a civil action for a violation of these provisions.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. June 29, 2026In committee: Set, first hearing. Failed passage. Reconsideration granted.
2. June 23, 2026From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on B. P. & E.D.
3. June 23, 2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on B. P. & E.D. (Ayes 6. Noes 2.) (June 22). Re-referred to Com. on B. P. & E.D.
4. June 10, 2026Referred to Coms. on P., D.T., & C.P. and B. P. & E.D.
5. May 28, 2026In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
6. May 27, 2026Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 43. Noes 16. Page 5470.)
7. May 19, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
8. May 18, 2026Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
9. May 14, 2026From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 2.) (May 14).
10. May 6, 2026In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
11. April 22, 2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 2.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
12. April 16, 2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 10. Noes 4.) (April 16). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.