Discussions continue online about the "new DRM system" on PlayStation 5. Many believed that after the 30-day period expires, they would be blocked from launching purchased games if they didn't pass an online check, but another theory has emerged that explains the purpose of such a system.
A user under the nickname andshrew published a "detective investigation." His theory: in reality, this "temporary license" for a game is Sony's way of combating malicious refunds.
Some gamers or game clubs would buy a game and receive a "perpetual license," then request a refund as an "accidental purchase." They would first go offline permanently, and thus, essentially, fill their libraries for free. A 30-day license in such a situation appears to be a way to curb this practice.
andshrew conducted an experiment: he bought a game on April 9 and waited a couple of weeks. When he launched the console, this much-talked-about "30-day license" for the game appeared, but soon after installing the game, the license became perpetual:
I bought the game on April 9. I turned on my PS4 on April 21 — a 30-day license for this game automatically appeared. Then I installed the game on April 25. The information screen showed that I could play offline for another 26 days. Approximately 30 minutes after installation, the license was replaced with a perpetual one, and this remains even if I delete and reinstall the game. Thus, 16 days passed between the initial purchase and the moment the license granted the right to permanent offline play.
He bought a second game for the experiment on April 27 and installed it on the same day. Again, a "30-day license" was set, and unlike the first game, a permanent license for this one has not yet been issued.
andshrew believes that such a difference in the operation of the game "license" system is explained by a 14-day time gap — this is the standard window for processing refunds.