Did Sony confirm the controversial DRM feature?

Following the price increases, PlayStation users have been dealing with another controversial issue that questions what ownership actually means. Recently, users spotted a new type of DRM being implemented with the latest PlayStation update that enforces a 30-day online check-in period for purchased games to be accessible. Till now, Sony has remained silent on whether this was an unintentional error or actually a new DRM implementation, and it now seems like it was a conscious decision.

While Sony has not put out a public statement about the controversial DRM, customer support seems to have been prepped for it. MrZackXOfficial (via Culture Crave) apparently reached out to PlayStation support and asked about the 30-day timer, to which the representative (or bot) responded with somewhat of a confirmation. The response was that games purchased digitally after the March 2026 update will be affected by the 30-day timer.

It explains that if the console does not connect to the internet within 30 days, the license for the purchased game expires, and offline play will be restricted. Following an active internet connection, the license can be restored.

Furthermore, Culture Crave also shared a video by Spawn Wave on YouTube testing this new DRM, where the YouTuber simulated crossing the 30-day window with no internet check-in, and sure enough, newly purchased games like Saint Slayer: Spear of Sacrilege and Vampire Crawlers asked for a license check at launch. However, games purchased prior to the update were not affected.

Contradictory reports

That being said, there are contradictory reports of said DRM as well. Some users commented on the X post with screenshots of PlayStation support saying the opposite, and reassuring users that there is no 30-day check-in required. It would be great if Sony could put out a statement, laying to rest all the speculation once and for all. It’s been enough time since the news about the DRM first came out, so it's suspicious that Sony has not cleared the air yet.

Does the DRM really matter?

From all the reports and screenshots, it seems like simply connecting to the internet, even if the 30-day period has passed, will restore the license, and users will be able to play their games without issues. Most users are connected to the internet anyway, and even if they are not, connecting once in 30 days is not a big deal. The response to this new DRM has been quite polarizing, with some users denouncing the console and criticizing Sony for the move. This does, however, raise the question of 'why?' and again, things would become clearer if Sony just put out a statement.