Playstation: everything we know so far

Sony PlayStation Store purchases now require a one-time license check for you to play PS5 or PS4 games for the first time. Playstation has emerged this Friday as one of the stories drawing attention in Taiwan.

Key facts

• Sony PlayStation Store purchases now require a one-time license check for you to play PS5 or PS4 games for the first time.
• PlayStation fans and gaming preservations have been alarmed since late last week that a new 30-day timer attached attached to newly-purchased digital games for PlayStation 4 and 5 might render those games unplayable if the system they’re on is offline for longer than a month.
• They believed that a PlayStation’s online check-in would trigger the license change no sooner than 15 days after the user had purchased the game.
• This synced with the theory that Sony’s new system is related to the 14-day window that PlayStation users have to request a refund for digitally purchased games.
• “Players can continue to access and play their purchased games as usual,” a rep for PlayStation told me over email. “A one-time online check is required after purchase to confirm the game’s license, after which no further check-ins are needed.”

What we know

Going deeper, PlayStation fans and gaming preservations have been alarmed since late last week that a new 30-day timer attached attached to newly-purchased digital games for PlayStation 4 and 5 might render those games unplayable if the system they’re on is offline for longer than a month.

On the substance, they believed that a PlayStation’s online check-in would trigger the license change no sooner than 15 days after the user had purchased the game.

Beyond the headlines, this synced with the theory that Sony’s new system is related to the 14-day window that PlayStation users have to request a refund for digitally purchased games.

More precisely, Digitally-purchased games will be accessible long-term, after one early online check.

It is worth noting that Quickly, players began stress-testing the system, removing a battery within their PlayStations and checking what would happen if their systems were offline past the timer window.

By the numbers

At this stage, that is consistent with a newer theory that emerged by gamers testing the 30-day timer over the last two days.

On a related note, a post last Friday by YouTuber Lance MacDonald spread awareness over the 30-day timer.

Going deeper, they noticed that setting a PS4 or PS5 to be the “primary” console—a common Sony-authorized method to retain rights to a digital game—wasn’t overriding the 30-day limit.

On the substance, they found that digital games purchased on PS4/PS5 after some time in mid-April would get a 30-day timer that could then be removed and replaced with a perpetual license that would allow the game to be played offline.

What they're saying

“Players can continue to access and play their purchased games as usual,” a rep for PlayStation told me over email. “A one-time online check is required after purchase to confirm the game’s license, after which no further check-ins are needed.”

The wider context

On a related note, But their explanation suggests that this new DRM method should not result in long-term loss of access to digitally purchased games, just because a PlayStation is offline for a month or Sony’s servers are down.

Going deeper, In a follow-up, I asked the Sony rep if the 15-day timeline is accurate or if the perpetual license can be activated sooner after purchase.

On the substance, Fun fact: That 24-hour check-in detail was my scoop from an interview I had that day with then-Xbox exec Phil Harrison.

Beyond the headlines, a new rule is in place for any new purchases, which confirms you own a game before you begin playing.

More precisely, it may be an effort to combat refund scams in which users buy a title from the PlayStation Store, take their console offline, initiate a refund, and then play the game without reconnecting.

The bottom line

• They believed that a PlayStation’s online check-in would trigger the license change no sooner than 15 days after the user had purchased the game.
• This synced with the theory that Sony’s new system is related to the 14-day window that PlayStation users have to request a refund for digitally purchased games.
• That is consistent with a newer theory that emerged by gamers testing the 30-day timer over the last two days.
• Searches spiking right now: PS官方證實「數位版30天驗證」是真的！網實測原因曝光, PS Plus 公開 5 月份遊戲陣容 包含《明末：淵虛之羽》《九日》等遊戲免費下載遊玩, 索尼PS Plus四月陣容更新：經典回歸、大作特惠、下架倒數, Sony 5 月 1 日起調漲 PS5、PS5 Pro 與 PlayStation Portal 台灣售價 #PlayStation 5 (248069).