During the weekend, there was a lot of concern, and rightfully so, regarding an update that appeared on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 consoles. A 30-day timer appeared on digital games you owned. Basically, if the console does not connect to the internet within 30 days, the license expires, and the game may refuse to launch until a connection is restored.
Today, a user who is a viewer of MBG on X (Twitter) did an online chat with PlayStation Online Assistant.
The user decided to ask the chat assistant about the 30-day timer on PlayStation.
This is what the PlayStation Support account said:
“We understand your concern on this matter. While there hasn’t been a formal public announcement from PlayStation, the introduction of the 30-day DRM timer is meant to be a technical measure.”
The chat continues:
“Affected Content: Games purchased digitally after the March 2026 update.”
“Offline Functionality: If the console does not connect to the internet within 30 days, the license expires and the game may refuse to launch until a connection is restored.”
Sony has not made a public announcement
Sony Interactive Entertainment has not made an announcement regarding the DRM issue on PS4 and PS5. Until we see an official notice from PlayStation, we should take this with a slight grain of salt. It’s likely the “Online Assistant” that is being used is AI, which a lot of corporations are using lately for live chat services.
DRM is a worry for fans who pay for digital content. It makes them feel they don’t necessarily own the game as the license could “expire”. It was a concern in 2013 when Don Mattrick, the head of Xbox at the time, revealed DRM features for the Xbox One.
