Not a bug? New PlayStation digital purchases reportedly show 30-day license timer
Sony has not issued a public statement, but a PlayStation support response reportedly says the 30-day license timer for new digital purchases is part of an update.
© Lance McDonald Reports about a new PlayStation digital license check are now gaining more attention after a support chat reportedly described the change as intentional. The claim concerns newer digital purchases on PS4 and PS5, which some users say now require an online license validation within a 30-day period.
The issue was first raised by users testing recent PlayStation Store purchases. According to those reports, digital games bought after a March 2026 system update may receive a 30-day validity period. If the console remains offline beyond that period, the game may fail to launch until the license is checked again online. We have seen these reports, and just as many reports of people claiming nothing like this exists on their accounts.
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. pic.twitter.com/23gU16CIkx
— Lance McDonald (@manfightdragon) April 25, 2026
Potential major DRM issue rolled out by PlayStation (and Xbox as well, allegedly). All new PSN purchases now have a 30 day validation countdown. Already investigating to find out more details. pic.twitter.com/4hqMdWfJ2T
— Does it play? (@DoesItPlay1) April 25, 2026
PlayStation Support confirms
Dot Esports reports that a user contacted PlayStation Support and was told the behavior is part of a new update rather than a bug. The support response reportedly says the requirement applies to digital purchases made after March 2026. It also says setting a console as the primary system does not bypass the online check.
Update: A user asked Ps support and confirmed DRM issue is intentional and not Bug. pic.twitter.com/n6Xpd6LYh5
— HazzadorGamin, Dragon of Dojima (@HazzadorGamin) April 27, 2026
Removing CMOS battery triggers a license error, even on PS5
The claim has also been tested on video. Spawn Wave published a test using newer digital PlayStation purchases, with the console taken offline and the CMOS battery removed to force a date reset. The test showed affected games refusing to start without a license check, while older purchases and physical media were reportedly not affected. The video does not prove Sony’s intent, but it supports the claim that this is not just a visible timer in the UI.
The reaction has been negative because the claim affects the long-term usability of digital purchases. Sony’s own PlayStation terms already state that digital Store purchases are licenses rather than product ownership. A recurring 30-day online check would make that distinction more visible for users who keep consoles offline, travel with hardware, or preserve older game libraries.
History repeats itself?
In 2013, Microsoft announced Xbox One with a 24-hour online check-in requirement. The console would need to connect to the internet once every 24 hours to keep playing games on the user’s own console. If using a game on another console, the check-in window was only one hour. Microsoft also planned limits around used games, lending, renting, and resale. Coverage at the time described it as a DRM and used-game control system, not just a license refresh.
Sony did not spare time to roast Xbox, they used E3 2013 to contrast PS4 against Xbox One, with the “how to share games on PS4” video becoming a direct hit on Microsoft’s policy. The public reaction turned Xbox One DRM into one of the defining issues of that console launch. Microsoft reversed course shortly after.
Source: Does it play , HazzadorGamin , Spawn Waves
