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Hugely terrible DRM has now been rolled out to all PS4 and PS5 digital games. Every digital game you buy now requires an online check-in every 30 days. If you buy a digital game and don’t connect your console to the internet for 30 days, your license will be removed.

Source [2026-04-25; +image]

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You wouldn’t “lose” it, the licence would be restored after connecting to internet… provided Sony’s servers are still functioning when you do…

Source [2026-04-25]

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…Trophies on PS4 require the internal system clock (the one you can’t see / alter) to be correct, so people cant change their PS4 date/time to make it look like they got trophies earlier than they really did. If your PS4 clock battery dies, all your games die

Source [2021-03-23]

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Newly purchased PS4 games now have 30 day valid license timer.
Most likely introduced in March 2026 firmware.
Could be a bug similar to an incident from 2022.
PS5 is affected too, but only shows an error when starting a game.

Source [2026-04-25]

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Update x2: not a bug - PlayStation just quietly confirmed it’s intentional.
Any digital game you buy after the march 2026 update now requires you to go online at least once every 30 days or it won’t even launch.

Source [2026-04-28]

[Image] Official PlayStation Support Response [2026-04-28]


Source: https://xcancel.com/SmashJT/status/2048887546323808258#m

[Image] "Don't Starve Together" (PlayStation)

  • MidsizedSedan@lemmy.worldEnglish
    23·
    5 days ago

    If buying isn’t owning, piracy isn’t stealing*

    *

    I know Steam makes you tick a box saying "hey, paying for the game here means you are paying for a tempory licence. But l am 100% ready to switch to piracy if this comes to Steam. I will am happy to pay the devs through a steam purchase, but just pirate the game afterwards.

  • Etterra@discuss.onlineEnglish
    241·
    7 days ago

    Ah yes, the BlizzActivision gambit. Best countered by selling your PlayStation and getting a PC.

  • Joanie Parker@lemmy.worldEnglish
    12·
    6 days ago

    Haven’t turned on my ps5 since 22. Don’t plan on it. But when I do, it won’t be connected to the internet.

    Hopefully some easy hacking methods will be available by then.

  • Numenor@lemmy.worldEnglish
    5·
    5 days ago

    Kids who aren’t allowed to play during the school term are gonna log on their holidays to a very bad surprise

  • stupidcasey@lemmy.worldEnglish
    10·
    6 days ago

    Oh, no, I hope nobody knows how to fake a NIST time server and set the clock back to before it expired, that would be awful.

    • balsoft@lemmy.mlEnglish
      31·
      5 days ago

      I imagine after it expires it will trigger some flag somewhere and will never work again.

  • RaoulDook@lemmy.worldEnglish
    3·
    5 days ago

    This was already sort of a problem I think because I booted up my PS3 earlier this year and my Playstation account credentials didn’t work because of some new account verification bullshit, and I couldn’t play my PS Store digital games, only discs.

    • mrvictory1@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      2 days ago

      I went through the new account verification thing on ps3 more than a year ago, all digital titles work. Granted ours is not connected to internet for a long time and is stuck on afaik 4.88 firmware.

  • potoooooooo 🥔@lemmy.worldEnglish
    42·
    5 days ago

    We should make one exception and let Valve have a monopoly on video games until Gabe dies. They get Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft, all of it. For safekeeping.

    • zoostation@lemmy.worldEnglish
      5·
      5 days ago

      The company that inserted itself as a middleman into a once-open gaming platform and added a layer of online DRM to all games you buy, even offline single player games. Outstanding. Good job, everyone.

      • potoooooooo 🥔@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        5 days ago

        And yet! If you HAVE to choose a major game company to do the right thing, they’re the closest we’re gonna get of the major players. Which is rich. I agree with you. They used to be arch villains in gaming and now, RELATIVELY speaking, look like angels.

  • Mr_Dr_Oink@lemmy.worldEnglish
    11·
    5 days ago

    So i am clear, as this will affect me, it isn’t saying i need a subscription, just that i need to have my ps5 connected to the internet?

    Can someone help me to understand why this is an issue if i play online games as well as offline.

    Does it just mean it becomes a problem when support for the ps5 stops? Like when you cant log in anymore?