Home / Technology / Sony's New DRM: Is Your Digital Library Safe?
Sony's New DRM: Is Your Digital Library Safe?
28 Apr
Summary
- Sony implements a 30-day license check for digital games.
- New DRM may revoke access to games if console is offline.
- Feature seems to impact only purchases made after March.
Sony is currently facing criticism for a newly observed '30-day license check' on digital game purchases for its PlayStation 5 and PS4 consoles. This feature, noted by several users, allegedly revokes access to digitally acquired games if the console does not connect to the internet within a 30-day period.
Reports indicate that this measure, perceived by many as a form of digital rights management (DRM), seems to exclusively affect games purchased following the system update released in March. Users who do not connect their consoles online periodically may find their purchased games unplayable until an internet connection is re-established.
This situation has drawn comparisons to Microsoft's 2013 Xbox One DRM controversy, where similar online-checking requirements were met with significant user backlash. Sony has not yet officially commented on whether this license check is an intentional feature or an unintentional bug, leaving consumers concerned about the future accessibility of their digital game libraries.
