California, the biggest state in the US when it comes to both population and the sheer volume of tech companies squeezed into its borders, has just passed the country’s most extreme right to repair bill in the US (via Ars Technica). It’s the third state to pass such a bill, but goes further than either Minnesota or New York in that it forces companies to support their products for longer. But while it will cover gaming PCs and laptops, games console manufacturers get a free pass.

There are exceptions, however, and it seems like games consoles are somehow exempt from this right to repair requirement. Guess someone’s been lobbying against the inclusion of consoles, eh? The bill itself talks specifically about an “electronic or appliance product” or just a “product”, but stipulates that doesn’t include a video game console.

“‘Video game console’ means a computing device, including its components and peripherals, that is primarily used by consumers for playing video games, such as a console machine, a handheld console device, or another device or system. ‘Video game console’ does not include a general or an all-purpose computer, which includes, but is not limited to, a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, or cell phone.”

So, that means your Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch consoles are all seemingly exempt from having to offer long term support, but at least in the computing space your PC and laptop will be covered.

80 points

It reminds me of the absolute insane stuff arcade manufacturers would do to keep control over everything.

Capcom used to sell full blown arcade systems where the game’s ROM was actually volatile - in 2 years, it would vanish. You needed to pay them a monthly fee so that a technician would come up with a special device capable of rewriting the data periodically.

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24 points

Enterprising Greedy manufacturers will absolutely devise a way to classify computers, laptops, tablets, and phones as “game consoles”.

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24 points

HP tomorrow “introducing our new gaming inkjet printer”

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5 points

printer scanner, which requires ink cartridges to function

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1 point

At this point I think they will just sell them for less than 50$ and still earn as much money by shrinkflation.

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20 points

Nintendo is a mob level boss.

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20 points

Game consoles are like proprietary PCs with some of the features removed. If PCs are included, couldn’t you argue game consoles are too?

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22 points

Moat electronics are proprietary computers with limited features. Consoles make no sense as an exception.

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1 point
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I mean what features are removed exactly? They have all the components needed to install windows/mac/linux and hook up a mouse and keyboard. I really don’t see any distinction besides they come with gamepads and a gaming oriented OS instead of keyboards and a more general OS.

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9 points
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1 point

game console for sure, as the rest of the have the capability as well but it’s general focus is gaming.

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6 points

Can’t install a general computer OS on any other “console” out of the box though.

I wouldn’t expect Valve to have a problem with conforming to right-to-repair laws anyway. I have a hard time imagining they’re taking a bath on hardware that you can completely remove their storefront from.

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2 points

But general focus isn’t a specific legal term is it? Like what about gaming laptops? Isn’t that the same thing? I haven’t read the law so idk if it creates that specificity.

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