Sony's Latest PlayStation Update Sparks DRM Fears: What We Know
PlayStation users say the feature can revoke access to digitally bought games unless consoles connect online within 30 days.
- Sony faces backlash after users identified a "30-day license check" on PS5 digital games purchased after the March update, requiring periodic internet connectivity to verify licenses.
- YouTuber Spawn Wave verified on April 27 that PS5 games crash after 30 days offline, displaying an error message: "Can't use this content. Can't connect to the server to verify your license."
- While PlayStation Support agents have acknowledged the system, Sony has not released an official statement, leaving players uncertain if the measure is intentional policy or an unintended bug.
- Many PlayStation fans have compared the situation to the controversial 2013 Xbox One DRM, which required users to be online every 24 hours or games would stop working.
- It remains unclear whether Sony will walk back the feature, though Microsoft was forced to reverse its 2013 DRM after strong backlash, signaling potential pressure ahead.
20 Articles
20 Articles
It is still too early to be able to assert anything safely, but Sony’s new measure for digital games could be one of the worst news that its users receive from confirming themselves. Sony has certainly been on a bad run: from the recent price hikes of its hardware and consoles, which add to the previous ones and have given rise to the only time in the history of video consoles when devices go up in price as the years go by in the active generati…
Sony Rolls Out 30-Day Online DRM Check-In For PlayStation Digital Games
Sony is reportedly rolling out a 30-day online check-in requirement for some digital PS4 and PS5 games, meaning players could temporarily lose access if their console does not reconnect to renew the license. Tom's Hardware reports: In the info page of an affected game, you'd see a new validity peri...
GameStop Is Trying To Capitalize On PS5's Reported New Online Requirement
It appears that Sony has implemented a new feature requiring PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 owners to connect to the internet every 30 days to renew the license on digital games they've purchased. Players who have stumbled into this odd feature are saying all PlayStation Store purchases made after March 2026 now feature a 30-day timer showing how long players have until they must connect to the internet and renew the game's license. Players who…
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