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Sony Rolls Out 30-Day Online DRM Check-In For PlayStation Digital Games

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Why This Matters

Sony's implementation of a 30-day online DRM check-in for digital PlayStation games introduces a new layer of license verification, impacting offline play and user convenience. This change signals a shift towards more restrictive digital rights management, raising concerns among consumers about game access and ownership. The move highlights ongoing industry debates over digital licensing policies and user rights in gaming.

Key Takeaways

Sony is reportedly rolling out a 30-day online check-in requirement for some digital PS4 and PS5 games, meaning players could temporarily lose access if their console does not reconnect to renew the license. Tom's Hardware reports: In the info page of an affected game, you'd see a new validity period and a "remaining time" deadline. At first, this seemed like a software bug, but now PlayStation Support has confirmed its authenticity to multiple users. PlayStation owners are furious about the change. From what we've seen, this DRM is intended for digital game copies. It works by instating a mandatory online check-in where you have to connect to the internet within a rolling 30-day window or risk losing access to the game. Afterward, you can still restore access, but you'll need an internet connection to renew the game's license first. So far, it seems like only games installed after the recent March firmware update are affected. Affected customers report that setting your PS4 or PS5 as the primary console doesn't alleviate this check-in policy either. No matter what, any game you download from now on will feature this new requirement, effectively eliminating the concept of offline play for even single-player titles.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.