Sony Tells PlayStation Users They Don't Own Their Digital Games Amidst Backlash Over Ending Physical Discs

Sony is sending email communication to PlayStation users, reminding them that they do not own their games purchased on the PlayStation Store. Several people have reported receiving an unprompted email from the company containing a copy of PlayStation terms that set out the rules regarding online services, digital purchases, and more. The email explicitly states that PlayStation users do not own their digital games and only buy a licence to use the product when they make a purchase.

A Reddit user reported receiving the email with a full copy of the terms, which includes detailed information on their rights and obligations as PlayStation users, last week.

“You recently accepted the following PlayStation terms (the “Terms”): PlayStation Terms of Service, PlayStation Code of Conduct, PlayStation End User License Agreement, PlayStation Privacy Policy,” the email reads. (Gadgets 360 can confirm that a similar email is also going out to PlayStation users in India). “For your convenience and future reference, we have included full copies of the Terms in this email. Please retain this email for your records. The Terms set out important information about your rights and obligations when using PlayStation.”

'You Do Not Own the Digital Product'

A section of the terms also covers digital purchases on the PlayStation platform. “The Software is licensed to you, not sold,” the section titled ‘The License to you' reads, stating terms from the PlayStation Software Application End User Licence Agreement. “You are granted a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, and personal license to play or use the Software for your private, non-commercial use on the system or device it was intended for.”

Sony's email sent in India covers the same subject, but is worded differently. Under the ‘Shopping on PlayStation Store' section of the terms, the company details the rules regarding digital purchases and explicitly states that purchases made on the PlayStation Store do not result in ownership.

“When you purchase or download A Digital Product from the PlayStation Store: You buy a personal licence to use Digital Products for private use. Your licence to use Digital Products is not transferrable unless your local applicable laws say it must be,” the email sent to PlayStation users in India, seen by Gadgets 360, reads. “This means you can use a Digital Product in the ways described in the licence but you do not own the Digital Product.”

The PlayStation email arrives at time when users have raised concerns about digital ownership of games, especially when the only way to purchase PlayStation games will be digitally via the PlayStation Store starting January 2028, when Sony will end production of physical game discs for new titles.

Sony's decision to end physical discs for PlayStation games has sparked intense backlash from users and sparked debate about consumer rights, ownership, and games preservation. Game preservation group Does it play? has also organised a PlayStation boycott from August 23, urging users to log out of their PlayStation accounts and not play games, in addition to stopping purchases and cancelling subscriptions.

The PlayStation parent, however, is not backing down from its decision to go all-digital from 2028. In its latest earnings call in July, Sony said it would “cautiously” press ahead with its plan, despite resistance from PlayStation users.