Sony Interactive Entertainment recently sent emails to users, reminding PlayStation players that digital games on the platform are licensed for use, not sold as owned property.
According to X user tomwarren, the email was titled "PlayStation Terms – For Your Records," informing recipients that they had recently agreed to several PlayStation-related agreements, including the Terms of Service, Code of Conduct, End User License Agreement, and Privacy Policy. The email stated that the full terms were attached for "your convenience and future reference" and asked users to keep the email for their records.
Not long ago, Sony Interactive Entertainment announced that production of physical discs for new PlayStation games would cease starting January 2028. The announcement sparked strong backlash from players, who argued that physical media grants true ownership, supports resale, and allows game content to be preserved independently of digital stores.
Section 1.4, "License Granted to You," of the attached End User License Agreement clearly states: "This software is licensed to you, not sold." The agreement further specifies that the license for PlayStation digital games is a "limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable personal license," allowing users to play and use the software only for "private, non-commercial purposes" on the corresponding console or device. The agreement also notes that all rights not expressly granted in the license are reserved, including intellectual property rights to the software.
This policy itself is not new; it has long been part of Sony Interactive Entertainment's existing software license terms. However, the timing of this reminder is quite significant. The day after the email was sent, players were set to launch a week-long "No Buy, No Play" protest against Sony's decision to discontinue physical media. The campaign does not call for an indefinite boycott but rather encourages PlayStation users to participate in a symbolic 7-day halt, running from 7 PM local time on Sunday, August 23, to 7 PM local time on Sunday, August 30.