Sony’s new DRM policy forces gamers to connect online every 30 days to keep their digital titles playable

In a shocking move that has sent shockwaves through the PlayStation community, Sony has seemingly introduced a new digital rights management (DRM) check that could lock users out of their digital games. A growing number of PS4 and PS5 owners have reported that newly purchased digital games are now subject to a 30-day online validation check.

According to the viral discovery first made by YouTuber Modded Warfare, and later tested by Twitch streamer Lance McDonald, the PlayStation 5’s version 13.20 update has introduced a 30-day timer for digital purchases. This means that if players don’t connect their consoles to the internet within 30 days of purchasing a game, they won’t be able to play it until the timer is reset after an online connection. This change is reportedly affecting all newly purchased digital games since mid-April 2026.

Though the game will not be permanently inaccessible, the inconvenience is palpable. Once the 30-day timer expires, players will face an error message and be unable to play the game until they log online to verify their license, resetting the timer for another 30 days. In stark contrast to earlier beliefs, this is not a permanent lockout; it’s a validation issue that requires an internet connection to fix.

While this issue is easily overlooked by players who have constant internet access, it’s a significant problem for those with unreliable or intermittent connections, leaving many without the ability to enjoy their games if they are unable to get online.

Interestingly, this new DRM check only affects games purchased after a specific date, which appears to be mid-April 2026. Previous purchases are unaffected, as no such timer exists for games bought before this period. For PS4 users, the timer is visible in the game information, showing the ‘Valid Period (Start)’, ‘Valid Period (End)’, and ‘Remaining Time’ for the game. However, on PS5, users only learn of the issue when they try to play the game after the timer runs out, when they are greeted with a notification explaining that their game needs to be validated online.

The problem gets more concerning when examining potential long-term consequences. If Sony’s new DRM policy is indeed intentional, it raises fears of a scenario similar to the infamous “CBOMB” issue. In 2021, a bug with the PS4 CMOS battery left gamers unable to play their digital games if the battery died or was removed. Sony responded with a fix for the issue, but now, with the addition of the 30-day online check, there’s worry that players could once again face this problem if the PS4 or PS5 servers are ever switched off.

The issue of DRM has also sparked speculation among some gamers, with suggestions that the new timer could be an attempt by Sony to clamp down on piracy. The 30-day online check would effectively hinder the use of digital games to trigger exploits for jailbreaking consoles, since jailbroken systems are typically kept offline to avoid detection. By introducing this 30-day DRM timer, Sony seems to have found a way to prevent the use of digital games as a gateway for jailbreaking or piracy.

Despite the mounting complaints from players, Sony has yet to release an official statement confirming whether this DRM timer is an intentional feature or an error introduced by the recent update. Some players have even reported that Sony’s customer service chatbots have acknowledged the change, but the company has remained tight-lipped about its true intentions.

If Sony doesn’t reverse this policy or at least make the timer less intrusive, it could have far-reaching consequences for users who rely on offline gaming or are concerned about the long-term viability of their digital libraries. As the situation unfolds, gamers are waiting with bated breath for clarity from Sony on whether this new 30-day DRM check is a permanent feature or an accidental glitch.