This is a translation of a foreign article, so there may be translation errors.
https://www.flatpanelshd.com/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1783340582
PlayStation can delete all your digital games if there is no activity for 3 years
![[Europe] PlayStation deletes account and all purchased games if no activity for 3 years](https://s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/image.nongkrong.co.id/upload/editor/20260707/20260707_103119172.jpeg)
PlayStation's decision to ditch physical game discs and switch to an all-digital download approach has raised important questions about ownership and is facing fierce backlash.
The official announcement came last week. From 2028, new PlayStation games will no longer be released on physical discs. Related article: The broader consequences of PlayStation's elimination of game discs
This decision has sparked outrage among gamers, with accusations that Sony is establishing a monopoly through the PlayStation Store as the sole distribution platform for console games, which will ultimately lead to price increases.
PlayStation can delete your games
Over the weekend, users pointed out that according to PlayStation's European terms of service, if there is no activity for 3 years—that is, if you don't use PlayStation for years—the company can delete your account and all purchased digital games, intensifying the anger.
PlayStation's European terms of service stipulate the following:
21.2. If you have not used your account for a minimum of 36 months, we may take steps to close your account. In this case, we will contact you through the email address registered with your account and provide you with a 6-month period during which you can log in to your account or contact us to request account retention.
21.3. After an account is closed, you will not be able to access PlayStation online services or use digital products purchased with that account. Account closure is irreversible.
Whether PlayStation actually enforces this policy is a separate matter, but if you have purchased games digitally through the PlayStation Store over the past 15 to 20 years, you have agreed to these terms.
Unless future EU legislation strengthens consumer rights regarding digital ownership, Sony retains the right to delete your account.
Games sold on disc are, in principle, also licensed products that can be revoked. The crucial difference is that digital games can actually be reclaimed, whereas physical discs contain the entire game and cannot be reclaimed unless they require online activation or similar restrictions. Related article: PlayStation closes PS3 and PS Vita game stores
This is not about GDPR
Because identical language does not explicitly appear in PlayStation's US terms of service, some have concluded that this is due to the European Union's data protection regulation that came into effect in May 2018.
However, that is not valid. VideoKauz points out that PlayStation's account deletion policy dates back to at least 2009, when the inactivity period was 18 months. This period was extended to 24 months in 2016 and to 36 months in 2019.
Microsoft also has similar account policy terms that apply to Xbox, including in the United States. The crucial difference is that Microsoft has promised not to delete accounts that contain digital purchase history such as Xbox games.
▶ Original source: https://www.flatpanelshd.com/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1783340582
