PS5 digital license changes mean you’ll need to be online at least once to keep playing

Otherwise? Go digital.

Changes to PS5 digital licenses mean players who purchase games will need to go online with them at least once in an initial 30-day period to be able to continue playing.

Earlier in the week, Twitter users DoesItPlay and Aussie Lance McDonald discovered the new licensing change, which the latter initially described as, “Hugely terrible DRM”.

“Every digital game you buy now requires an online check-in every 30 days. If you buy a digital game and don’t connect your console to the internet for 30 days, your license will be removed,” McDonald continued.

“Games you bought in the past seem to not have this issue, but any game you buy from now on will only work for 30 days without an online check-in. This can NOT be avoided by using ‘Activate console as primary’,” McDonald wrote. “All digital games now die after 30 days for all owners.”

Speaking with Kotaku, DoesItPlay’s Clemens Istel said the matter was introduced to combat fraud.

“What I can say is that we were shown internal info that gives details about the situation. It is a layered thing, though. And our source also isn’t involved deep enough to know any outcomes,” Istel said. “The way we understand it currently is that there was an additional layer of DRM introduced to combat fraudulent behaviour from users. Our best guess is that this might have to do with a refund scam we’ve heard about. It might also be about the recently reported exploit surrounding the Star Wars Racer game.”

After a prolonged period of silence, Sony addressed the matter, stating that a permanent license is issued once players go online in that initial 30-day window.

“Players can continue to access and play their purchased games as usual,” Sony told Gamespot. “A one-time online check is required to confirm the game’s license, after which no further check-ins are required.”