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Reports Claim PlayStation Digital Games Now Require 30-Day Online Check-Ins

The unverified issue could be a firmware bug that risks new PS4 and PS5 purchases needing regular internet validation.

Overview

  • Modders and preservationists reported a 30-day license timer on newly bought PlayStation Store games, with PS4 screenshots showing a “remaining time” field.
  • The claims rely on a Modded Hardware video and posts by Lance McDonald, and DoesItPlay said it reproduced the behavior on PS4 and saw errors on PS5.
  • DoesItPlay later said an anonymous insider described the timer as an unintended bug from a recent exploit fix.
  • Reports describe the issue on purchases from March 2026 onward and say primary-console activation does not bypass it.
  • Sony has not commented, and no verified case shows a game failing to launch after the countdown, though players fear losing offline access.