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This week, PlayStation users were up in arms after some noticed what looked like a 30-day digital license timer on PS4 and PS5 purchases. The company has done its best to put the issue to rest, and it appears not to be as big of an issue as people first assumed.
The initial fear was that Sony was introducing something similar to Microsoft’s unpopular “always-online” feature for the Xbox One. Under that kind of system, players’ access to games they own can depend on periodic internet verification.
Digital rights management is a hot-button topic in gaming, as companies’ efforts to protect themselves from piracy often come at the expense of a worse experience for paying customers. Thankfully, what’s actually going on with the PlayStation is considerably less intrusive than players assumed.
PlayStation’s New Digital License Check, Explained
Sony has clarified that it is not requiring users to reconnect every month forever in order to keep their games playable. Instead, PlayStation now performs a single online verification for newly purchased digital games. That check is made after the 14-day refund period expires. Once it has been successfully completed, the game will remain playable without any ongoing re-verification.
Sony explained the change in a statement to GameSpot:
“Players can continue to access and play their purchased games as usual. A one-time online check is required to confirm the game’s license, after which no further check-ins are required.”
Sony hasn’t fully explained the details of the change or its rationale. However, many will simply be relieved that PS4 and PS5 owners are not, in fact, being asked to log in monthly or risk losing access to their game’s catalog. In the grand scheme of DRM fiascos, a new one-time license confirmation won’t ruffle too many feathers.
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GTA 6 Delay Fears Ease as Take-Two Talks up November launch
Anything involving GTA 6 immediately becomes headline material, and this week Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick appeared to reassure fans that the game is still on track for November 19, 2026.
He joked that “a lot of people will be calling in sick” on launch day, while separate reporting said GTA 6 marketing is expected to begin “soon.”
It’s not a new trailer, sadly, but it is at least a comment we can latch onto when delay fears are always lurking.
Roblox Cuts Forecast as Safety Changes Hit Growth
Roblox had one of the week’s biggest business stories after it cut its annual bookings forecast, with the company’s shares falling to an 18-month low.
The issue appears to be short-term friction from new safety measures, including age-based accounts, verification, and expanded content monitoring.
It’s a major moment because Roblox is trying to balance the pressure it’s facing over child safety with the need to maintain user growth. Investors clearly don’t appreciate the need to make that trade-off.
Xbox Revenue Falls Again, With Hardware Down 33%
Microsoft’s latest earnings put Xbox back under the microscope. Gaming revenue fell by $380 million year-on-year, while Xbox hardware revenue dropped 33% and content and services revenue declined 5%.
New Xbox boss Asha Sharma acknowledged the brand still has “work to do,” which adds to the wider sense that Xbox is still trying to find its footing between consoles, Game Pass, cloud, and multiplatform releases.
Subnautica 2 Finally Gets an Early Access Release Date
After months of behind-the-scenes legal drama involving Unknown Worlds and Krafton, Subnautica 2 finally resurfaced with a confirmed Early Access launch date of May 14, 2026 for PC and Xbox Series X|S.
It was suggested that the game had previously been delayed amid internal conflict and a legal dispute, making the new date a big relief for survival fans. The original Subnautica built a proper cult following, so this one is a big deal.
