Sony Interactive Entertainment is sending out an email reminding PlayStation users that their digital games are “licensed to you, not sold.”
The email (via tomwarren on Twitter/X), titled “PlayStation Terms – Copy for your records,” tells recipients that they recently accepted several PlayStation agreements, including the Terms of Service, Code of Conduct, End User Licence Agreement and Privacy Policy. It says the full terms are included for “your convenience and future reference,” and asks users to retain the message for their records.
Sony Interactive Entertainment recently announced that physical game disc production for new PlayStation games will be discontinued starting from January, 2028. The announcement has triggered backlash from players who argue that physical media provides true ownership, allows resale and helps preserve games independently of digital storefronts.
The wording of Section 1.4 of the company’s End User Licence Agreement included in the email, headed “The License to you,” clearly states, “The Software is licensed to you, not sold.” The agreement then describes the PlayStation digital games license as “limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, and personal,” allowing users to play or use the software for “private, non-commercial use” on the intended system or device. It also says that rights not expressly granted by the license remain reserved, including intellectual property rights in the software.
The policy itself isn’t new, as it is part of Sony Interactive Entertainment’s existing software licensing terms. The timing, however, is rather odd. The reminder comes at an awkward moment for PlayStation users, just a day ahead of a week long “economic and gameplay blackout” to protest against the company’s decision to end physical media. Rather than calling for an indefinite boycott, the movement is urging PlayStation users to participate in a symbolic 7-day blackout from Sunday, August 23 at 7 PM local time until Sunday, August 30 at 7 PM local time. Read about it here.
