PlayStation’s New DRM for Digital PS4 and PS5 Games Is Real, Console Needs Internet Every 30 Days
Digital games have always been convenient because you can buy them instantly and keep your whole library on one console. However, one of the biggest problems with digital gaming has always been DRM.
Digital Rights Management (DRM) is a system that controls access to digital games and content, often requiring online verification to confirm ownership. This means that even if you buy a game, access to it can still depend on online checks and platform rules.
PlayStation Confirms New DRM for Digital PS4 and PS5 Games
Xbox players already know this well, as being offline can limit access to a large part of the catalog. Now PlayStation players are facing a similar situation, as Sony has confirmed a new rule for digital games on PS4 and PS5.
If you buy a digital game from the PlayStation Store, your console now needs to connect to the internet at least once every 30 days. If it does not, the game license can be disabled, which means you may not be able to play until the console goes online again. It does not matter if you are still using a PS4 or if you have already moved to PS5. Sony confirmed that this is not a mistake, but part of a new policy introduced with a recent update.
PlayStation Support confirmed this directly to a user, explaining that all digital games bought from March 2026 onward now require a monthly online check. If your PlayStation stays offline for more than 30 days, access to those games may be blocked until the system reconnects.
Setting your console as “Primary” also does not remove this 30-day requirement. However, there is at least one good point. Older digital purchases made before March 2026 seem to be free from this rule, so they should continue working normally.
Even without a full public statement from Sony, the message is still clear. If you want to keep playing your digital games, your PlayStation needs to connect to the internet at least once every 30 days.
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