New demonstrations confirm the 30-day internet check DRM affects both PS4 and PS5 digital games bought after March, as initially reported last week. Content creators replicated license blocks after offline simulations, while PlayStation Support has given conflicting answers. Sony remains silent.
Building on early reports from April 25 highlighting PS4 tests by DoesItPlay and others, recent weekend videos provide further proof. Destruction Games simulated extended offline time on PS4 by removing the CMOS battery, triggering access errors for post-March titles. Spawn Wave extended this to PS5, testing recent purchases of Saint Slayer: Spear of Sacrilege and Vampire Crawlers, which displayed: “Can’t use this content. Can’t connect to the server to verify your license. Wait a while, and then try again.”
PlayStation Support responses have fueled uncertainty. An apparent AI chat affirmed the 30-day timer as intentional, but a human agent denied any re-authentication requirement, insisting late-March games remain accessible offline indefinitely.
Preservation group DoesItPlay, involved in initial investigations, clarified the DRM as an “unintentional” anti-fraud measure—targeting refund scams and exploits like one in Star Wars Racer. Owner Clemens Istel noted: “The first license expiring is intentional, but the way it is displayed for the user is not... It is currently unclear whether this happens automatically or has to be done through another online check.” Sony has not commented despite inquiries.
