PlayStation users had recently grown concerned that a new game license DRM policy had been quietly implemented, but brand steward Sony Interactive Entertainment has now explained the unannounced change. Concerns about PlayStation games becoming unplayable without regular online check-ins began nearly a week ago, with console users reporting that their purchased games appeared to only be valid for a 30-day period.
A Sony representative has now clarified to GameSpot that purchasing and playing digital games will effectively continue as usual, and that the change is more or less a backend process alteration. “Players can continue to access and play their purchased games as usual,” the SIE representative said. “A one-time online check is required to confirm the game’s license, after which no further check-ins are required.” This seems to confirm that, once the new 30-day license expires, a single online check-in will see it replaced with a permanent license.
While SIE’s statement doesn’t offer much additional context, this appears to be a measure taken to reduce the frequency of users refunding a game, but still playing it offline in perpetuity. It was previously possible to purchase and download a game from the PlayStation Store, take the PlayStation console offline, then refund the game through an internet browser and continue to play the game offline, as there was no way for the permanent license to be verified. With an initial license that expires after 30 days, that loophole will conceivably be closed.
Purchased titles now work similarly to how PlayStation Plus games work, albeit in a more limited capacity. Since access to a game downloaded for no additional charge via a PS Plus subscription requires said subscription, they’re essentially loaned to you on a short-term software license, which auto-renews as long as your membership remains active. Instead of checking in regularly, purchased games only do so once to ensure you’re still a license holder 30 days after purchase.
The concern over the apparent introduction of 30-day licenses isn’t without merit. Digital games are already a morass for ownership and game preservation. When you purchase a game from the PlayStation Store (or many other digital storefronts, GOG a rare exception), you don’t necessarily purchase the game itself, but a license that allows you to download the game files and run them on your console. This has long been a concern for game preservationists, as a digital-only release could conceivably be lost forever if not archived in some form.
This particular saga has turned out to be a non-issue, though. Consumers are right to be wary of DRM changes, and Sony could have simply avoided the misunderstanding by announcing the change, but for the vast majority of PlayStation users, the new license policy is irrelevant. Games downloaded to a PlayStation console will continue to work as they always have, and issues will only arise if you take your system offline for a whole month.
- Brand
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Sony
- Original Release Date
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November 19, 2020
- Original MSRP (USD)
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$399.99 (Digital Only), $499.99 (Disc Drive)
- Weight
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Digital Edition now weighs 3.4 kg & base version weighs 3.9 kg
