A senator wants Mexico to treat digital games like physical ones.
Luis Donaldo Colosio Riojas, president of the Mexican Senate’s Digital Rights Commission, has proposed changes to the country’s consumer protection laws. He posted the plan on his personal Instagram account alongside federal deputy Iraís Reyes. The goal is simple: make it clearer what a player buys when they pay for a digital game.
The initiative follows a wave of similar proposals around the world. California’s consumer rights arguments from earlier this year pushed for similar clarity on what purchases mean. Now Mexico is joining that fight.
What the Initiative Wants
Colosio and Reyes want companies to stop hiding behind licenses. They want a purchase receipt to say whether a player owns a game or simply rents it. That distinction matters when a server shuts down and a game stops working.
The proposal also targets preservation. It would require companies to keep digital goods available even after official support ends. That means players could still access a game even if its servers are gone.
The third prong is accountability. Many companies selling digital goods in Mexico lack a local presence. That makes enforcement nearly impossible. The initiative would force businesses to register a Mexican business address so authorities can step in if something goes wrong.
Why This Matters Now
The shift to digital gaming is accelerating. Sony plans to end physical disc support in 2028. Groups like Stop Killing Games have pressed the EU to introduce stronger consumer rights protections.
Colosio and Reyes have already acted. They filed an antitrust complaint against Sony following its announced shift away from physical games earlier this year.
The move is timely. Many enthusiasts are unhappy with Sony’s announcement. Last week, Sony reportedly polled game developers about their feelings toward the shift to digital. That suggests the company is still weighing whether the planned move to a digital-only future will hold.
The Three Main Demands
The initiative’s core asks are straightforward:
- Clearer disclosure on purchases: companies must explain whether a sale grants ownership or just a license.
- Preservation after servers close: digital goods should remain accessible even when official support ends.
- Local accountability: companies selling in Mexico must register a business address so authorities can act on consumer complaints.
Each point addresses a different kind of friction. Disclosure fixes uncertainty about what a purchase actually delivers. Preservation protects against the loss of a game entirely. Accountability ensures there is somewhere to complain.
The Problem With Digital Sales Today
The problem the initiative tries to solve is that digital purchases are often opaque. A player pays money and gets a file, but not always the rights they expect.
A license can expire. A server can shut down. A company can move operations elsewhere. Under current rules, none of that is clearly explained at the point of sale.
The initiative would force companies to answer those questions before the transaction happens. Players would know what they are getting before they click buy.
How This Compares to California
California’s consumer rights arguments from earlier this year shared the same goals. They wanted clearer disclosure on what purchases meant and preservation for digital goods.
Mexico’s proposal extends that logic further. It adds the requirement that companies register a local business address. That gives Mexican authorities a foothold they currently lack.
The comparison is useful because it shows this is not a Mexican idiosyncrasy. The same concerns are surfacing in multiple jurisdictions. Sony’s global pivot toward digital gaming is driving a wave of regulatory responses.
What Happens Next
Colosio and Reyes have put the proposal on the table. The next step is legislative process. Whether it becomes law depends on votes and negotiations.
The proposal also faces practical hurdles. Companies may resist the disclosure requirements. Some may argue preservation obligations are too costly. Others may balk at registering a local business address.
Those objections are predictable. The proposal’s supporters will need to make the case that clarity benefits everyone.
Key Facts Box
- Initiator: Luis Donaldo Colosio Riojas, president of the Mexican Senate’s Digital Rights Commission
- Co-proposer: Federal deputy Iraís Reyes
- Platform: Posted on Colosio’s personal Instagram account
- Sony timeline: Ending physical disc support in 2028
- Sony complaint: Filed by Colosio and Reyes earlier this year
The Verdict on the Proposal
The proposal deserves support. It asks companies to be honest about what they are selling. It asks for a record that outlives a server. And it asks for a local presence so consumers have somewhere to go when things go wrong.
These are not radical demands. They are reasonable ones. Players should know what they own. Servers should not erase a game’s existence. And companies should answer to the countries where they sell.
The proposal’s fate is uncertain. But the fact that it exists is progress. Mexico now has a concrete plan on the table. That is more than many other countries can say.
Whether it passes remains to be seen. But the debate is now joined.
See the video the story is built around at Eurogamer.
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