Another country has entered the fray as ongoing debates around digital video game ownership ignite across the world.
President of the Mexican Senate’s Digital Rights Commission, Luis Donaldo Colosio Riojas, has revealed a new initiative via his personal Instagram account that he – alongside federal deputy Iraís Reyes – were proposing changes to legislation that would better protect consumers in Mexico in an increasingly digital consumer landscape.
The main points of this initiative are geared towards providing better clarity on what people are actually buying when they purchase a digital product, which would force companies to clarify whether people are actually buying a product or just a licence to use said product.
It also pushes for some manner of digital preservation after servers are taken down, allowing those who purchase digital goods to continue playing some form of a game after they are no longer officially supported. This aligns with similar goals seen in Californian consumer rights arguments from earlier this year.
Finally – and perhaps most importantly for Mexican gaming enthusiasts – the pair are pushing for additional accountability for companies that sell digital goods in Mexico. At the moment, many of these companies do not have consumer-facing support in Mexico, and this proposition aims to change that by forcing businesses to have a Mexican business address so authorities can intervene if consumer rights issues occur.
This push from Colosio and Reyes comes at a time when the shift towards a fully digital gaming landscape is becoming more likely. With Sony planning to end physical disc support in 2028, groups like Stop Killing Games have put pressure on the EU to introduce greater consumer rights protections. Colosio and Reyes filed an antitrust complaint against Sony following its announced shift away from physical games earlier this year.
The shift to digital has proven controversial, with many enthusiasts expressing their displeasure towards Sony following its announcement. Last week, Sony reportedly polled game developers about their feelings about the shift to digital, indicating perhaps this planned move to a digital-only future may yet be up in the air.