This is one of those issues that you need to be aware but don’t believe everything you read on the internet. Over the last two days, the internet has been a buzz about the Sony 30 Day DRM policy. The biggest issue with this is how to search for the news. A basic Google search will show you that many of the bigger gaming sites don’t mention this at all. Smaller or bottom feeder social media outlets are spewing up a frenzy. Since we live in an age that people believe headlines or memes, there is massive confusion.
Sony has not confirmed it. That is the biggest thing to remember. After you get past the clickbait headlines, and get to the end of the article, nothing is confirmed. Yes, some people claim to have experienced this. However, it is not widespread.
The original report comes via YouTube channel Modded Warfare. The new version 13.20 update for the PlayStation 5 comes with a form of digital rights management (DRM) in which digitally purchased games have to be verified going forward. According to some reports, it only applies to digital games purchase after March 2026. Does not apply to physical copies.
According to the channel, which was also tested by Twitch streamer and modder Lance McDonald, any game purchased on or after a certain date appears to have a 30-day timer applied to it. If the player doesn’t play the game for 30 days, they will have to connect their console online to renew the license. There the timer resets to 30 days again.
Sony 30 Day DRM isn’t What the Internet Says
Two things to keep in mind: this is far from confirmed and beware social media. Many sites are using links to reputable sites, who are asking the same question. They don’t know for sure. This is one of the biggest issues with the internet. Linking sites that supposedly back up your claim, which does not. An MSN piece sites a Windows Central article as a confirmation. Yet, when you read the piece, it is a “they could but would they” article. Hardly a confirmation. The MSN piece claims it’s confirmed.
Many of the sites are clinging to the PlayStation Help screenshots as confirmation. Yet, various articles contains many different wording. There is not one single unifying verbiage. In this day of online fakery, it is important to not take the claims of a YouTuber, social media post, or unknown blogger. I said what I said.
There are countless social media accounts that claim it is verified. Yet, there are no pinned sources attached to accounts. You can easily do that on Twitter, Threads, and Facebook. Basically, it’s source: trust me bro.
Can it be True?
Sure. Of course it can. Anything is possible. Like many point out the downfall of Microsoft was when no one would be able to share a game. Remember that from 2013? Sony even made fun of it in their announcement. Some aren’t even waiting to capitalize on the “rumor”. GameStop didn’t waste any time.
It is important to remember that, if this is true, the game will not be unusable after 30 days. As someone that has it always connected to the internet, it doesn’t seem like an issue. For most people, this isn’t an issue. But sites conflating two different things for clicks, this is wear the problem lies. The game is still yours. If you don’t connect to the internet every 30 days, the game will require it to play. Then you can play it.
Unlike Microsoft, Sony allows their games to play without the internet. I sincerely doubt this will be a thing. It could be part of a code that someone noticed. It has been 13 years since Microsoft’s major screw-up, Sony could have forgotten by now. I think for the vocal minority, it will be a problem. Yet, a majority are connected to the internet constantly. I get the response to a point.
In the end, I believe the outburst is similar to Linux users when they read about another Microsoft change. They fill their feeds about it. Complain about the company. Then, remind people this is why they ditched it a decade ago.
