One thing that console players have truly appreciated over the years is the real ownership of the games they purchase. Whether on a disc or a digital copy, Sony has always been a pioneer in console game sales in both mediums. Additionally, PlayStation allows users to play single-player games downloaded or installed on their PS5 console offline. However, this situation seems to be changing soon, as a new PlayStation DRM feature has been reported to potentially lock you out of the games you own.

PlayStation DRM Feature Raises Concerns Over Loss of Access to Purchased Games

A strange rumor is circulating in the gaming community regarding the addition of a mandatory 30-day internet check for games purchased online for the PS5. Initially thought to be a glitch, this rumor presented a timeline indicating that a login would need to be performed every 30 days to maintain offline access to a game.

This feature, now reported as not a glitch, was confirmed by a user who contacted the PlayStation Support Online Assistant on the PS website. When the user inquired about the reported DRM timer for games purchased after March 2026, the chatbot responded, “We understand your concern on this matter. Although there has been no official public announcement from PlayStation, the 30-day DRM timer is intended as a technical precaution.”

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To elaborate on the latest policies regarding the 30-day timer for online purchased games, the chatbot shared full details such as Affected Content, Offline Functionality, Primary Console Restriction, and Valid Period. We do not know if these policies will carry over to the next-generation PS6 console, but they are already active for the PS5.

Here are the full details:

  • Affected Content: Games purchased digitally after the March 2026 PlayStation update.
  • Offline Functionality: If the console does not connect to the internet within 30 days, the license will expire, and the game may not be launched until a connection is established.
  • Primary Console Restriction: Setting a console as “Primary” does not invalidate this 30-day requirement.

Additionally, the chatbot responded: “30 days is a valid period and is not indicative of an account restriction or something similar.” To check the valid period of a game, you can go to the game information section on your PS5 console to find out the exact date you need to go online to be able to play the game offline.

What do you think about this change? Do you believe that PlayStation's DRM implementation is a good move? Let us know in the comments below!