'Please be fake' — PlayStation fans panic as Sony seemingly introduces ridiculous new '30-day license check' on digital games
PlayStation users are reporting a new '30-day license check' that requires online verification to maintain access to digitally purchased games on PS5 and PS4, sparking backlash over concerns about restrictive digital rights management. The feature appears to affect only purchases made after a March 2026 system update, and customer support has reportedly confirmed it is intentional, not a bug. The controversy draws comparisons to Microsoft's 2013 Xbox One DRM policy, which faced widespread criticism and was later reversed. Sony has not yet issued an official statement on the matter.
- ▪A new '30-day license check' reportedly requires PS5 and PS4 users to connect to the internet every 30 days to retain access to digital games bought after the March 2026 system update.
- ▪The feature has been confirmed as intentional by PlayStation support, despite initial speculation it might be a bug.
- ▪Users who do not comply with the check lose the ability to play their purchased games until the console reconnects to the internet.
- ▪The policy has drawn criticism for resembling Microsoft's controversial 2013 Xbox One DRM requirements, which mandated daily online checks.
- ▪Sony has not publicly addressed the rollout of this feature or provided clarification on its implementation.
Full article excerpt tap to expand
Gaming Consoles & PC Playstation 'Please be fake' — PlayStation fans panic as Sony seemingly introduces ridiculous new '30-day license check' on digital games News By Isaiah Williams published 28 April 2026 It's unclear whether it is intentional When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Shutterstock / Rokas Tenys) Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Sony is under fire for new rumored '30-day license check' for digital purchases on PS5 and PS4 consolesThe DRM feature was spotted by several users, and seems to only impact purchases made after the March system updateSony is yet to explain whether the feature is intentional or a bugSony has been under fire over the last few months over significant price hikes on PlayStation 5 and PS Portal hardware amid the ongoing memory crisis and wider economic struggles. Unfortunately, the company is back in the spotlight again, for the wrong reasons — and arguably the worst yet.As reported by VideoCardz, several PlayStation users spotted a new '30-day license check' on digitally purchased games on PS5 and PS4. This supposedly revokes game licenses if users don't log in or connect their console to the internet within 30 days, meaning that they can no longer be played until the console is connected to the internet again.This seemingly only applies to games that have been bought after the latest March system update, and reportedly won't impact previous purchases.Article continues below You may like Sony is reportedly testing dynamic pricing on its PlayStation storefront that changes the price tag of over 190 games PlayStation users are now being asked for age verification in the UK and Ireland, or risk losing access to communication features when it soon becomes mandatory PlayStation users in the UK could be collectively awarded billions in compensation for 'excessive and unfair' PlayStation Store charges in class-action lawsuit against Sony Unsurprisingly, the situation has left several users panicking, effectively labelling the measure as a new form of console digital right management - or DRM.Comment from r/GamingLeaksAndRumoursComment from r/GamingLeaksAndRumoursUpdate: A user asked Ps support and confirmed DRM issue is intentional and not Bug. pic.twitter.com/n6Xpd6LYh5April 27, 2026 (Image credit: Shutterstock / Mohsen Vaziri)It has also sparked comparisons to Microsoft's Xbox One controversy back in 2013, when it revealed a DRM feature that required users to be online every 24 hours or games would stop working, alongside frustrating restrictions on game resales.Notably, Sony famously mocked Microsoft with a short video on how to share games on PS4, but now in 2026, Sony is seemingly following suit. That's, of course, if this new license check is intentional.Concerned users have already reached out to PlayStation's chat support, and based on the replies, it appears as though this new DRM measure is indeed intentional, despite suggestions that it may be a bug. We've reached out to Sony for a statement, but haven't received a response yet. window.sliceComponents = window.sliceComponents || {}; externalsScriptLoaded.then(() => { window.reliablePageLoad.then(() => { var componentContainer =…
This excerpt is published under fair use for community discussion. Read the full article at TechRadar.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from TechRadar
