Sony were the ones to trigger the most recent outcry over customer's desire to actually own the games they buy instead of just renting them for an indeterminate amount of time.  They…

Over the past week, there has been concern amongst console gamers after a PlayStation term of service update indicated that there would now be a required online check-in to continue accessing digital games on PS5 and PS4. Now, Sony has issued a statement on the matter.

The initial concern was that players would have to go through an online authentication process to play their digital games once every 30 days. However, in a statement to GameSpot, a PlayStation spokesperson said that there is just a one-time online authentication for digital games.

Here is the full quote: “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.”

Typically when you purchase a digital game, you are connected to the internet and ready to download it anyway, and chances are, you are going to boot the game up as soon as its done, at which point, the online check-in should take place and no longer be an issue. Sony's statement confirms that you won't lose access to your digital games even if you don't consistently connect your console to the internet.

KitGuru Says: Microsoft lost the Xbox One generation essentially because of a digital DRM system like the one players were concerned about here. Microsoft reversed course pretty quickly but the PS4 had Xbox One beat on price too.

While past versions of Denuvo have been cracked for plenty of games, many 2025 titles have remained protected through the latest version of their anti-tamper DRM software. That looks to be changing now, with the first crack for DOOM: The Dark Ages appearing online. 

As reported by The Gamer, the very first crack for a 2025 Denuvo game has arrived. The version of Denuvo that shipped with DOOM: The Dark Ages has been cracked, and the person responsible for it has teased that more cracks are still to come, indicating that more ‘recent' Denuvo-supported titles may soon become piratable.

In the past, we've seen a number of studios drop Denuvo several months after a game's launch period but in more recent years, a number of major titles have kept the DRM in place indefinitely. Many gamers take issue with Denuvo, claiming that it harms performance and performs intrusive on-going checks while a game is running.

Recently, there was some backlash against the anticipated game Crimson Desert, as the studio behind it suddenly decided to implement Denuvo just weeks ahead of launch.

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KitGuru Says: Pirates have caught up to Denuvo before but as is always the case with things like piracy and anti-cheat, it is a cat and mouse game. Crackers may have caught up for now, but Denuvo will no doubt roll out a more secure version, starting the cycle over again.