Sony recently sent an email to folks with PlayStation accounts reminding them of the Terms of Service they agreed to when signing up, the lack of full rights to digital purchases, and all.

The email has arrived not even two months after Sony made its decision to end physical disc production for new games on PlayStation consoles in 2028 public, which is certainly… a choice.

If you’ve not received it yourself, it’s quite lengthy, but it basically outlines all of the company’s Terms of Service. Most notably, it gets into digital purchases, and how they can be rescinded – yes, “even those you paid for,” as the email reads. “The software is licensed to you, not sold,” after all.

Now, that’s not to say that this will happen, but more so that it can. For example, should you lose access to your PlayStation account, you’ll also lose access to your digital purchases. Or, if Sony issues a ban or the like against you, you can similarly lose access to your digital games.

It’s a tough pill to swallow amid all the game preservation chatter, especially as Sony recently doubled down on its plan to axe physical discs.

Folks aren’t taking the email very well, unsurprisingly, as it serves as a reminder that we’ll never truly “own” our digital purchases.

That’s not all, either – there are other tidbits that aren’t sitting well with users, like the fact that Sony writes it “may track and record your activity on PlayStation Online Services” and that its “liability will not be more than £100.” In other words, that’s the most the company can pay you back, should it need to.

Over on X, one disgruntled user points out some of these eye-catching Terms of Service highlights, starting with the fact that “you don’t own your digital games, you rent a license,” and if an account is “closed or banned, your games are gone, even paid ones.”

Comments show disappointment across the board, with many people upset by the blatant lack of consumer rights for digital purchases.

“This company are total greedy assholes right now,” one response reads, “and Rockstar Games are just as guilty.” They’re likely referencing the fact that GTA 6 is essentially digital only – a point that allegedly spurred the recent GTA 6 leaks circulating the web.

Another adds, “Sony’s executives truly represent everything that is wrong with gaming.” A good few responses bring up pirating games, too.

That checks out, considering how game preservation experts recently predicted the rise in digital gaming would all just lead to more piracy – but it’s important to note that this isn’t a PlayStation-exclusive problem.
As a separate thread explains, Microsoft has similar Terms of Service for Xbox users. It’s an issue that isn’t tethered to one console or platform, but rather… well, pretty much every single one that supports digital purchases.

Here’s hoping we’re able to find a nice middle ground in the future that allows for both digital and physical purchases – and consumer rights, too, please.

Here’s why we think PlayStation killing discs is bad for everyone, whether you care about physical games or not