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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.
Insights by Ground AI
23 Articles
23 Articles
What did Sony say about PS5 game expiry DRM?
Sony’s response to PS5/PS4 expiry license concerns Sony has addressed the backlash over reports that certain PS5 and PS4 digital games might become inaccessible if players don’t reconnect regularly. In a statement provided to GameSpot, Sony said the problem is not an “expiry” in the sense of…
Coverage Details
Total News Sources23
Leaning Left2Leaning Right0Center3Last UpdatedBias Distribution60% Center
Bias Distribution
- 60% of the sources are Center
60% Center
L 40%
C 60%
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