Brazil Pushes New Bill for Game Digital Preservation After Sony Backlash

Digital preservation has become one of the most contentious issues in gaming. Sony has been moving away from physical media, shutting down digital storefronts, and removing large numbers of movies and TV titles from players’ libraries without compensation—sparking backlash across the industry. At the same time, grassroots efforts such as Stop Killing Games are pushing lawmakers to respond to publishers like Ubisoft and EA when they shut down online titles and leave players with software that’s no longer accessible. Appeals have largely gone nowhere so far, but Brazil is now considering a legislative proposal aimed at strengthening consumer protections for digital media.

What Brazil’s New Bill Would Require From Game Publishers

A newly proposed measure from federal deputy Jandira Feghali is focused on preventing online games from becoming unplayable once official support ends. The bill would place specific obligations on publishers, including advance notice and a minimum duration of continued support.

• Publishers would have to give players warning 180 days before support is scheduled to end.
• Publishers would also be required to guarantee a minimum support period of at least two years.

If a game still ends up being taken offline, Feghali’s proposal outlines alternatives intended to reduce harm to customers. Companies would be expected to either make updates that keep the game playable offline, provide the community with tools to help it stay running, or reimburse players based on how long they spent using the title—otherwise the publisher could face penalties.

• Update the game so it can be played offline after shutdown.
• Give players/community tools that help maintain the game’s operability.
• Offer reimbursement tied to time spent on the game to avoid fines.

How Likely Is It to Pass as Written?

While the proposal draws heavily from the same themes promoted by Stop Killing Games, getting the bill through exactly as drafted is far from guaranteed. Feghali is a long-time Brazilian politician from the Communist Party of Brazil and sits within the current left-leaning coalition, which can help her push the measure onto committee agendas. Even with that advantage, the bill still has to clear multiple hurdles: approval by several standing committees, a vote in the Chamber of Deputies, and then another round of floor consideration after it moves to the Senate—before it can reach the president for a final decision.

During that process, publishers are expected to lobby against the measure. Still, given Brazil’s comparatively strong consumer-rights framework, a compromise version could be more realistic. One likely adjustment would be removing reimbursement as an obligation, while softening the part that requires publishers to provide community tools to keep games running.

Publishers may argue that handing over or facilitating server-level infrastructure creates security concerns, and that they cannot be expected to provide proprietary components such as third-party anti-cheat middleware. However, a less demanding requirement—allowing the community to continue using whatever tools they already have access to—may be more achievable for companies to comply with. The 180-day notification requirement and the two-year minimum support window are also viewed as more likely to survive negotiations.

Erika Hilton Requests Sony Investigation, But the EU Says It Can’t Stop It

Beyond the preservation bill, federal deputy Erika Hilton has also asked for an investigation into Sony after the company announced it will stop producing new physical game disc runs in 2028. That decision is framed as a step toward a digital-only approach for PlayStation 6 and beyond.

Hilton’s position is that the move could limit players’ ability to resell, lend, and preserve games they buy. She also raises concerns about people who lack reliable internet access and depend on discs, arguing that this could conflict with Brazil’s Consumer Protection Code.

There’s already momentum behind the criticism. A Dutch nonprofit group has reportedly announced plans for a $450 million lawsuit targeting Sony over the shift away from physical releases. Even so, Hilton’s request runs into a separate geopolitical issue: the EU says it has limited leverage to block Sony’s direction.

European Commissioner for consumer protection Michael McGrath said companies can structure how they offer games and services as they see fit, as long as consumer rights remain protected under both national rules and EU law. In other words, the EU does not see itself as able to simply stop Sony’s plan.

For PlayStation, the company appears committed to moving forward with eliminating physical discs. Still, opposition groups and lawmakers are continuing to build pressure through investigations, legal actions, and proposed consumer-rights legislation—setting up an ongoing fight over what “ownership” and preservation should mean in an increasingly digital future.