Fears mount that PlayStation has “re-armed the CBOMB” issue which stops you playing purchased games, amid 30-day DRM and AI chat bot confusion

PlayStation users discovered a new digital rights management (DRM) feature on PS4 and PS5 requiring online verification for purchased games, sparking widespread concern about offline access and game preservation.

The issue surfaced on April 25 when players noticed newly purchased digital games displayed a 30-day timer. The initial understanding was that games would become unplayable if players didn’t connect online within 30 days, which alarmed the community—particularly because it resembled the always-online DRM that Sony had publicly criticized Xbox for proposing in 2013. Concerns were amplified by the possibility that players with offline consoles or devices with degraded internal batteries could permanently lose access to their purchased content.

Sony remained silent for nearly five days amid the controversy, leaving players frustrated and speculating about the feature’s purpose. Customer support provided inconsistent information, adding to the confusion. The gaming community attempted to reverse-engineer the system, with some theorizing it was an anti-piracy measure that becomes permanent after 14 days.

Sony finally clarified the matter through a statement explaining that “a one-time online check is required to confirm the game’s license, after which no further check-ins are required.” This suggested the feature is less restrictive than initially feared—players only need to authenticate online once, and afterwards can play games offline indefinitely. However, ambiguity remained regarding timing and what happens to offline players unable to complete initial authentication, highlighting ongoing tensions between publishers’ DRM practices and players’ access rights.

Fears mount that PlayStation has “re-armed the CBOMB” issue which stops you playing purchased games, amid 30-day DRM and AI chat bot confusion

Sources