Sources: 
Sony has implemented a 30-day online check-in requirement for all new digital PS4 and PS5 game purchases. Users must connect to the internet at least once every month to maintain access to their games; otherwise, licenses could be revoked temporarily.
"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," said modder Lance McDonald, highlighting concerns over the new policy's impact on gamers preferring offline play.
This change, likely introduced in the latest PS5/PS4 firmware update, means players cannot access their recently purchased titles without an internet connection. The
previous core argument for digital purchases, which allowed offline play, no longer applies, raising alarms about possible future scenarios where licenses may become unusable if Sony discontinues server support.
The initiative is seen as a means to combat modding, restricting users from using outdated firmware or pirated content. Furthermore, similar moves in Microsoft's consoles have drawn
unwelcome comparisons, reminiscent of the controversial 'Always Online' policy of the Xbox One era. While existing game libraries remain unaffected, this change marks a significant shift in the gaming landscape.
"The change is... inconvenient for gamers...an unintentional bug," one report noted, with critics voicing their concerns about the future of digital gaming amid tightening DRM regulations.
Sources: Sony has introduced a 30-day online check-in requirement for new digital purchases on PS4 and PS5, jeopardizing access for users without stable internet. Gamers will need to connect their consoles every month to validate licenses, impacting offline play and drawing comparisons to controversial DRM policies by Microsoft.
