PlayStation games remain licensed rather than sold, according to a fresh round of communications Sony has issued to console owners. Over the past week, the company emailed PlayStation users its full Terms of Service, which restates that digital games are “licensed” and not “sold”.
Taken alone, the email is routine. It notifies users that they have recently accepted the latest Terms of Service, Code of Conduct and End User License Agreement. The timing, however, coincides with mounting frustration among players over Sony’s approach to physical media and digital ownership.
Discs on the way out
PlayStation users have voiced anger over Sony’s decision to remove the physical disc drive from the PlayStation 6, along with an announcement that it will stop producing game discs altogether from January 2028. That announcement followed the removal of several digitally purchased films from users’ accounts just days earlier.
The email was highlighted by The Verge’s Tom Warren on X, who noted that contacting users about PlayStation terms of use during a backlash over the end of discs and a lack of digital ownership was a notable choice.
The reaction has grown large enough to prompt a PlayStation boycott, beginning on Sunday, with players pledging not to buy, log in to or play games for a week in protest at Sony’s move away from physical media for the console.
A shift away from ownership
The move reflects a wider pattern across gaming and technology, where companies appear to be moving further from the concept of ownership. Consumers are increasingly asked to retain access to products that may be revoked or restricted at a company’s discretion, a change that has arrived gradually rather than in a single dramatic shift.
The HP printer controversy offers a comparable example. HP programmed its printers to lock users out if third-party ink is detected. A buyer can own the printer outright, but without the official, more expensive ink cartridges, the device can refuse to function.
There are subtler moves too. Apple raised MacBook prices this year, then launched a programme allowing customers to rent a device rather than buy one. Under such an arrangement, the customer would not own the MacBook, meaning Apple could restrict access if a lease payment were missed.
Music and film have followed the same route, with streaming established as the norm for years. Subscribers are periodically reminded that they are paying for the ability to listen or watch rather than owning the content itself.
Sony has confirmed it will cease producing PlayStation game discs from January 2028.
