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PlayStation’s new 30-day DRM check is a step backwards for gamers
Community tests suggest recent digital purchases on PS4 and PS5 now need an online license check every 30 days, but Sony has not explained the change.
- PlayStation users recently discovered a new digital rights management system requiring an online check-in every 30 days for new purchases, following firmware updates on PS4 and PS5 consoles.
- Sony introduced the measure to close a loophole where users with hacked consoles could refund games but retain access, with consoles verifying legitimacy after the company's 14-day digital refund window expires.
- Testing by groups like DoesItPlay suggests the 30-day timer is a technical license validation, with the preservationist group concluding the issue was an "unintentional mistake on Sony's end."
- Conflicting reports from PlayStation Support have fueled confusion as Sony has yet to issue an official statement, though evidence shows games older than 14 days remain playable offline.
- Across the community, users have compared the change to Microsoft's 2013 'always-online DRM' proposal, though this policy appears to be a specific license validation rather than a blanket offline restriction.
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34 Articles
Coverage Details
Total News Sources34
Leaning Left4Leaning Right0Center3Last UpdatedBias Distribution57% Left
Bias Distribution
- 57% of the sources lean Left
57% Left
L 57%
C 43%
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