PlayStation Reintroduces DRM Policy Previously Mocked by Sony for Xbox in 2013, Faces Significant Backlash

Recent developments have raised concerns among PlayStation users regarding a newly implemented online DRM policy for digital purchases made through the PlayStation Store. Users are now observing a “Valid Period” tag on newly acquired digital games, which indicates a start date, end date, and a countdown timer. This policy requires consoles to connect to the internet at least once every 30 days; otherwise, the game’s license will reportedly expire, rendering the title unplayable until an internet connection is restored.

This policy specifically targets digital games purchased after March 2026, meaning that titles acquired prior to this date will not be impacted.

The situation came to light over the weekend thanks to notable modder Lance McDonald, who previously achieved a 60 frames per second capability for Bloodborne. He took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his concerns, stating: “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.”

Upon learning about these revelations from McDonald, we considered earlier reporting on the matter. However, several players claimed they had not experienced the same issues in their libraries, prompting us to hold off. As of now, Sony has yet to make an official public statement on the matter. However, a PlayStation Support assistant recently confirmed to a user that the 30-day timer is indeed an intentional feature.

Official Policy Overview

The 30-day online connection requirement is confirmed to apply universally to all new purchases:

Affected Content: Digital games bought after March 2026
Offline Functionality: Failure to connect to the internet within the stipulated 30-day period will result in the expiration of the game’s license, preventing it from launching until connectivity is restored.
Primary Console Restriction: Designating a console as “Primary”does not exempt players from the 30-day requirement.

The 30-day timer is purely a part of the valid period and should not be mistaken for an account restriction.

Key PlayStation Online DRM Details

The policy impacts both PS4 and PS5 digital purchases made from approximately March/April 2026 onwards.
Being set as the Primary Console (which usually allows offline gaming) does not exempt users from the 30-day online verification requirement.

The reaction to this announcement has been overwhelmingly negative. Gamers across platforms such as Reddit and various social media channels have drawn direct comparisons to the infamous Xbox One DRM policies from 2013, which were ultimately rescinded. At that time, Sony openly criticized Microsoft’s restrictions, a stance that significantly contributed to the PS4’s popularity right from the outset of the console generation.

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