Sony has made it clear that a DRM check is necessary only once for newly purchased digital games on PlayStation 4 and 5.
In a statement to Game File, a representative from Sony mentioned, “Players can enjoy their purchased games without any interruptions. A one-time check post-purchase is essential to validate the game’s license, after which no additional checks are required.”
This clarification comes after reports of a 30-day timer on PS4 and PS5 without any explanation from Sony. Users expressed concerns about potentially losing access to digital games if their console remained offline or if Sony’s servers were inaccessible.
Further investigation by ResetEra user Andshrew revealed that conducting an online check after 15 days upgrades the limited license to a permanent one.
They pointed out that this timeframe goes beyond PSN’s 14-day refund policy, indicating that “some individuals may have been taking advantage of the ability to purchase a game, extract the unlimited license file from a vulnerable PS4, and then request a refund.”
Eurogamer highlighted that the issue of a console being unable to authenticate an online license in case its CMOS battery dies still persists.
However, Sony has previously resolved this problem on their modern consoles.
Concerns regarding Sony’s one-time DRM check mirror those raised about the original Xbox One policy in 2013, which initially required a constant internet connection for stricter DRM.
Microsoft promptly removed this requirement following backlash and also lifted restrictions on sharing physical games.