PlayStation DRM scare exposes how we don't truly own our PS4 and PS5 games
Overview & Key Takeaways
PS4 and PS5 players were concerned that a monthly digital game license check was now required, but not the kind of DRM PlayStation consoles have
Sony has addressed concerns surrounding a DRM (digital rights management) scare that gained steam on social media over the weekend — for the moment anyway. That said, the whole situation is a reminder of just how little control we have over digital ownership of video games and sheds light on how current video game platforms function.
For context, two prominent gaming accounts on X — Bloodborne 60 FPS patch creator Lance McDonald and game preservation organization Does it Play? — accused Sony on X of secretly adding a new DRM requirement for any game purchased on the PlayStation Store after March 2026. Due to unclear wording in a PlayStation 4 menu, it seemed that an internet connection would be required at least once every 30 days to confirm you still had a license for the PS4 or PS5 digital game you wanted to play. If this check failed, you would hypothetically no longer be able to play the game that you purchased.
In a statement provided to GameSpot, a Sony representative revealed that the DRM is less aggressive than that. "Players can continue to access and play their purchased games as usual. A one-time online check is required to confirm the game's license, after which no further check-ins are required," Sony explained.
Essentially, when you buy a game digitally, you are actually purchasing a license to play the game on your console. By requiring a one-time online check to verify the license, Sony combats piracy and other exploits that trick the PlayStation Store into thinking someone has purchased a game when they actually have not. A one-time check isn't as restrictive as a monthly check, even if players aren't granted an instant, permanent license for their purchases of digital games, but it still stings as it demonstrates the lack of ownership that we all have over our digital game libraries, no matter how much we spend or play.
This situation serves as a reminder of how closely tied modern game consoles are to online connectivity. To buy, download, and even play the affected games on the PlayStation Store, you already need an internet connection. In the short term, this check shouldn't impact your gaming habits very much, unless you're planning on purchasing a game and then taking your system offline afterward. This becomes an issue of game preservation when looking at the long-term impacts of it, though.
Although I understand why Sony would implement this measure to combat game piracy, even a one-time online requirement means that the PS4 and PS5 digital game libraries are no longer future-proofed if the online services for the platform ever go offline. One day, it's possible that games people have purchased but never played will be rendered unplayable because of this DRM approach.
While I'm relieved that the DRM isn't as restrictive as it initially seemed, the fervor around this proves just how fleeting our digital game libraries are. I personally fine game preservation very important, and there are now critical questions being raised about digital ownership of games on PlayStation consoles and how much Sony will respect that.
It's worrying that Sony was not immediately clear about changes to how its license checks work, given how it's directly connected to something PlayStation owners will spend money on. Sony was unclear about its DRM practices and needs to be more transparent going forward. Whenever the day comes for Sony to shut down online connectivity support for PS4 and PS5, I hope this one-time check requirement can be lifted. As it stands, though, be cognizant of how online checks are required for anything you now purchase through the PlayStation Store. This may not affect PS4 and PS5 owners that heavily right now, but that won't always be the case.
