PlayStation 5 Introduces Confusing New DRM Checks
- Sony adds online DRM checks for PS4 and PS5 games
- Players report confusion over new 30-day license timer
- Customer support seems unaware of the situation
Recent reports indicate that Sony has stealthily implemented online DRM checks for new PlayStation 4 and 5 titles, generating confusion among gamers. Notable gaming preservation outlet, Does it play?, pointed out that newly acquired PS4 games now feature a 30-day validity period for licenses, likely stemming from a firmware update introduced in March 2026.
The implications suggest that Sony may have established a system requiring online verification for digital purchases made after this date, allowing a grace period only if the console is offline.
Users have flooded platforms with inquiries to PlayStation support, but responses have been inconsistent, intensifying the uncertainty surrounding these changes. Many players have drawn parallels to a previous incident involving Sony’s internal clock battery, which rendered certain games inoperable, highlighting the need for improved communication from the company.