索尼近期在PlayStation Store中悄然加入了一項新的驗證機制，要求數字版遊戲玩家每30天將主機連接網路一次，否則無法啟動已購買的單人遊戲。此舉被玩家稱為「PlayStation DRM」，並在社群中引發強烈批評。截至發稿，索尼官方尚未對此作出正式回應。
然而，新的調查結果可能讓事態出現反轉。ResetEra用戶「Andshrew」與遊戲保護組織「DoesItPlay」聯合分析指出，這套系統並非永久性的DRM，而是一種臨時離線許可證。具體機制如下：
用戶購買數字版遊戲後，會先獲得一個有效期為30天的離線許可證。
如果玩家在此期間從未聯網，30天後遊戲將被鎖定，無法啟動;但只要再次連接網路，許可證便會自動轉換為永久離線許可證，之後無需再每月驗證。
關鍵轉換窗口與索尼的14天退款政策掛鉤：在購買後的第15天或之後聯網，系統便會將臨時許可證升級為永久版本。換言之，玩家只需在購買後半個月內聯網一次，後續便可完全離線運行。
So ResetEra user Andshrew and now also confirmed by DoesItPlay, appear to have figured out what's going on with #PlayStation's DRM. The good news is it's only a temporary DRM, not permanent. Here's how it works. When you buy a digital game, you are issued a temporary 30 day license for offline play. This license automatically transitions to a permanent license that will be free from future online check-ins, any time you connect after the 15th day of ownership, just after the 14 day refund window. But you have to log in or be connected to the internet for it to switch. You will not lose the license to the game if don't connect within or after the 30 day temporary license window, but you will be unable to play the game after 30 days, till you do, after which it'll turn into an indefinite DRM free license. Previously you'd be given an indefinite offline play license from the get go. So why did they implement this? It's possible people found an exploit where they could grab the indefinite license file for a game using an exploitable console, and then refund the purchase so they got the game for free. Hence Sony's current method of mitigating said issue is by time limiting the initial license issued. By issuing a temporary licence during the refund window, users can no longer pirate a permanent license and simply refund the game. As long as you log in any time a day after the 14 day refund window of any digital game purchase, it will turn into a permanent DRM free digital licence. At least this is what these two users have investigated and concluded. ResetEra link. https://resetera.com/threads/sonys-digital-drm-issue-of-mandatory-activation-every-30-days-is-reportedly-unintentional.1501771/page-7#post-154305715 DoesItPlay confirmation. https://xcancel.com/DoesItPlay1/status/2049164857845440657
這種設計被認為是為了堵住一個潛在的漏洞：此前，用戶購買遊戲後可立即獲得永久離線許可證。惡意玩家可能在改裝主機上下載遊戲、申請退款，然後斷網永久遊玩。新機制使得退款後繼續遊玩變得不可能——因為前14天內許可證仍是臨時狀態，若在此期間退款，遊戲將無法離線啟動。
DoesItPlay的測試還確認：如果玩家在30天內未聯網，不會失去遊戲持有權，僅僅是暫時無法啟動;聯網驗證後，遊戲恢復正常，許可證轉為永久。
儘管這一解釋比玩家最初擔心的「永遠強制每月簽到」要寬鬆得多，但社群仍然呼籲索尼官方出面澄清。玩家有權清楚了解自己購買的數字產品究竟受何種授權規則約束。目前，索尼繼續保持沉默，但多方證據指向一個結論：PlayStation DRM是臨時性的，主要服務於退款窗口期的防濫用目的，而非一項永久性的聯網驗證義務。
