Sony clarifies the controversial new DRM for PlayStation games

An SIE spokesperson says that a one-time check is needed to confirm the licence for games on PlayStation 5.

PlayStation users had quickly noticed a new digital rights management (DRM) system on games purchased on their console’s online store. This system showed a valid period with a “remaining time” metric, which indicated an online check-in. Online backlash ensued, and now Sony has issued a statement.

In a statement to GameSpot on April 29, 2026, an SIE spokesperson clarified the new DRM setup on the PlayStation Store. “Players can continue to access and play their purchased games as usual,” the statement read. “A one-time online check is required to confirm the game's license, after which no further check-ins are required."

What’s missing from this statement is when this check will take place and why it’s being implemented. Clemens Istel of DoesItPlay chalks this new DRM up to a refund scam that’s been circulating.

This situation with DRM for PlayStation consoles is strikingly similar to a situation Xbox found itself in circa 2013. When Microsoft announced the Xbox One, most of the attention wasn’t on the new console, it was on the strict 24-hour check-in requirements for games.

The unique thing about the PlayStation situation is it appears to only affect games purchased after a certain date. Games bought online before March 2026 appear unaffected.

Video game purchasing and ownership continues to be a hot-button issue in the games industry. Players are becoming increasingly aware of their rights when it comes to licences for games, especially when those games are taken offline and made unplayable. A recent movement called Stop Killing Games seeks to hold publishers accountable for ensuring users have access to the content that they purchased.

Stay tuned to our Sony and PlayStation 5 pages as we keep an eye on this situation.

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