In a nutshell

• New 30-day online license checks spotted for PS4/PS5 digital games purchased after March 2026.
• Sony confirms it’s only a one-time verification, not recurring DRM.
• Physical game purchases remain unaffected by the change.

Over the past week, PS4 and PS5 owners have noticed newly found restrictions with digital purchases.

PlayStation DRM Issue

Several reports, such as those from Lance McDonald, surfaced that PlayStation games bought after March 2026 now include a 30-day online license check, raising concerns for players with limited or unstable internet access.

Further testing by content creator Spawn Wave indeed confirmed the license check. Many others also noted that while the timer isn’t visible on PS5, it’s still tracked in the background.

Sony’s Official Response

Sony has finally addressed the concerns, clarifying that the system only requires a one-time online check to confirm a game’s license. In a statement made to Gamespot, Sony clarifies that it is only a one-time check. After this verification, players can continue playing without further restrictions.

“Players can continue to access and play their purchased games as usual. A one-time online check is required to confirm the game’s license, after which no further check-ins are required.”

A theory was also introduced, with Sony likely introducing this to combat refund scams, but it ultimately converts into an unlimited license once validated.

Physical Games Remain Unaffected

Retailer GameStop also playfully chimed in, reminding PlayStation players that physical disc purchases bypass these checks entirely.

Players would remember the extremely controversial Xbox 360 DRM issue, and with Sony mocking that moment, it seemed ironic that the brand would fall back on implementing something they had made fun of before.

At the moment, players can rest easy knowing this PlayStation DRM issue was way overblown, but it would also be wise to keep an eye on it moving forward to see whether the way it is implemented changes.