5Upper IntermediateGeneralTechnology

Sony's New Rule Could Lock You Out of Your Games

Sony has reportedly added a new system that requires PlayStation players to connect to the internet every 30 days. If they don't, their digital games may stop working. This controversial change has sparked a heated debate about digital ownership.

2 min readLevel 5April 28, 2026

By Flalingo Editorial Team

Vocabulary

Study these words before reading the article. Click the audio button to hear pronunciation.

controversial

/ˌkɒntrəˈvɜːʃəl/

adjective

Causing a lot of disagreement or argument among people

“The company's controversial decision led to widespread criticism online.”

preservation

/ˌprezəˈveɪʃən/

noun

The act of keeping something safe and protected so it continues to exist

“Many organizations are working on the preservation of classic video games.”

exploit

/ɪkˈsplɔɪt/

noun

A weakness in software that people can use to break the rules or cheat the system

“Hackers found an exploit in the system that allowed them to access paid content for free.”

unintentional

/ˌʌnɪnˈtenʃənəl/

adjective

Not done on purpose; happening by accident

“The company said the error was unintentional and promised to fix it quickly.”

temporarily

/ˈtemprərɪli/

adverb

For a limited period of time; not permanently

“The website was temporarily unavailable while engineers worked on the problem.”

renewed

/rɪˈnjuːd/

adjective

Starting again with fresh energy or interest after a pause

“There is renewed interest in learning languages thanks to new smartphone apps.”

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Article

Click on any underlined word to see its definition. Highlighted words are from the vocabulary section.

If you own a PlayStation, you might want to pay attention to this story. Reports say Sony has added a new rule to digital games on PS4 and PS5. Players must now connect their consoles to the internet every 30 days. If they fail to do so, their digital games could become temporarily unplayable.

The issue was first reported by well-known game modder Lance McDonald in April 2026. He shared evidence on social media showing a countdown timer on digital games. The timer apparently tracks how many days remain before an online check-in is required. Game preservation group Does It Play also confirmed the issue on their end.

This controversial policy only affects games purchased after March 2026. Older digital purchases remain unaffected by the new system. Some insiders claim the change was unintentional and happened while Sony was fixing a software exploit. However, a PlayStation support assistant reportedly confirmed the policy was not a bug. Sony has not yet released a formal public statement about the matter.

Many players have reacted negatively, calling the policy anti-consumer and unfair. Critics argue that people who pay full price for games deserve permanent access. The debate has renewed interest in physical game discs over digital copies. If Sony reversed this decision, many loyal customers would feel much more respected. This situation reminds us how little control we sometimes have over digital products.

Comprehension Quiz

Test your understanding of the article with these multiple-choice questions.

1
How often must players connect to the internet under the reported new rule?
2
Which consoles are affected by this new policy?
3
What happens to games purchased before March 2026?
4
Who first reported the new DRM issue publicly?
5
What has the debate encouraged some players to prefer?

Discussion

Answer these comprehension questions about the article.

1
What new rule has Sony reportedly added for digital PlayStation games?
2
Who first reported the issue, and what evidence did they share?
3
Which games are affected by this new policy, and which ones are not?
4
What explanation did some insiders give for the change?
5
How have players reacted to the reports about Sony's new system?

Further Discussion

Share your opinions on these open-ended questions.

1
Do you prefer buying digital games or physical copies? Why?
2
Have you ever lost access to something you paid for online? How did it feel?
3
Do you think companies should be allowed to control products after people buy them?
4
If you were in charge of Sony, how would you handle this situation?
5
How much do you depend on the internet in your daily life, and could you go 30 days without it?