Recently, PlayStation users stumbled upon a peculiar issue: some digital games need an internet connection every 30 days to remain playable. This situation centers around a type of digital rights management (DRM). Discoveries began on April 25, when YouTuber Modded Warfare first highlighted it for PlayStation 4 games. Initially, many thought Sony had introduced this new DRM requirement out of the blue.
The 30-day notice signals that if a player doesn’t connect online during that period, they can lose access to their purchased games. Importantly, this doesn’t affect physical copies or older digital games purchased before this change.
The issue extends to the PlayStation 5, though the situation is different. Users won’t see a countdown timer. Instead, they receive an error message when starting a game without an internet check. Curiously, this problem also involves consoles with a dead CMOS battery. When that battery fails, it may prevent access to digital games, a concern reminiscent of a past issue known as the “CBOMB.” Many players dreaded this problem, as it locked them out of their digital libraries.
Initially, it was believed that this countdown might be a bug. A video game preservation group, Does it Play, reported insights from an anonymous source claiming that the DRM was implemented by mistake while fixing another issue. Even if this DRM check is unintentional, its existence raises eyebrows, especially amid ongoing consumer rights discussions, like the Stop Killing Games movement that recently made waves in the EU parliament.
Many gamers disagree with having their access to games tied to an internet connection—this just feels unfair.
Additionally, a user on ResetEra, who goes by Andshrew, dug deeper and noticed that newly purchased games initially come with a temporary 30-day offline license. If players connect online after 15 days, it shifts to a permanent license, allowing offline play. Interestingly, this change appears to coincide with the refund cut-off period, leading some to speculate that Sony may be attempting to prevent exploitation of the refund system.
In light of these developments, some PlayStation owners have contacted Sony support regarding this issue. Screenshots of interactions with Sony’s customer support have surfaced, suggesting that there’s a recognizable pattern to these online checks. However, the validity of these screenshots is in question, especially with the rise of AI-generated content muddying the waters. Eurogamer has tried to replicate these support conversations without success, so the authenticity of the claims is still up in the air.
But why should everyday gamers care about these changes? According to Does it Play, this DRM introduces an extra barrier to accessing purchased games, which can be incredibly frustrating. Previously, users could play games indefinitely with their consoles set up a certain way. Now, if someone goes offline after buying a game, they may find themselves unexpectedly barred from playing.
There are various reasons a gamer might want to stay offline—like avoiding forced updates or dealing with internet issues. It’s concerning that, once again, the fate of players’ purchases could hinge on Sony’s continued support. Notably, there’s still no clear answer on how the CMOS battery problem will be managed moving forward.
The ongoing situation emphasizes the importance of understanding the implications of digital ownership. As technology evolves, so do the challenges of maintaining access to our purchased content, especially as we navigate a landscape where online verification is increasingly becoming the norm.
