PlayStation users might be receiving a shocking email from Sony related to the soon-to-be-removed digital content from their libraries. According to these new guidelines, players may notice the removal of some Discovery content, even if it was previously purchased by users. Additionally, they might no longer find the content anywhere in their library.
This comes as a surprise to users, as the autonomy of digital content on consoles seems to slowly move away. Not only does this invoke suspicion and a lack of control among users, but it also shifts trust regarding Sony’s introduction of new services to the platform.
Sony Blatantly Takes Away Digital Content From PlayStation Users’ Libraries
As tweeted by user JayRock, it seems that the company has been pushing out an email that advises users to look forward to the removal of digital content as part of Discovery. This is due to legal reasons and will be in motion starting on December 31, 2023.
While this does come as a surprise and pisses many people off, it’s important to know that Sony isn’t entirely to blame. After all, the content licensing arrangements between Sony and Discovery are kind of equally decided upon, and not one party is to be blamed entirely.
Unfortunately, the fact remains that shows like Survivorman and Mythbusters are among hundreds of other series that will be taken away from console users. Discovery’s shows are well-known for being deep dives into a mix of theory and practical science that blend into our understanding of reality.
You can visit this page to find out about all the content that is being removed from PlayStation libraries worldwide.
Previously, in 2022, the channel merged with WarnerMedia in hopes of popularizing the new Warner Bros. Discover. This is the same company that is behind Max, the popular entertainment platform. Tie-ups and collaborations aren’t always as clean as they’re envisioned, and other products and services might be affected.
Users Are Worried About the Future of Digital Content
Right after the tweet started going viral, the thread had a comment by user Born2Tease that said:
Been telling gamers this for a while this sort of thing will happen.
Stop pushing an all digital future
It’s a thought-provoking rant and this isn’t the only one. A discussion on Reddit quickly ensued, and users have been voicing their opinions about the unpredictability and lack of autonomy attached to digital purchases as a whole.
A comment by Redditor jozews321 outrightly tried to justify piracy:
If paying isn’t owning, pirating is not stealing
There’s no condoning of piracy at any point, but it’s clear that when independence regarding ownership is downright taken away from users in the context of digital purchases, it’s likely that companies will see a gradual shift in purchasing culture. What started with creating trust with online services slowly moves to a complicated relationship where users would rather purchase physical copies than put their money into digital copies of something.
Another Redditor by the name of CervantesX mockingly puts into words what the email ‘should have’ read:
You paid for it, but you can’t have it anymore. Anyways, please continue to pay us money for some other content you may or may not have for some random amount of time.
If things like this become more common, we’re looking at PlayStation users who are unable to put their trust in Sony’s online services when it comes to the console. Who knows? One day, users might start getting emails that some of their games are taken away or simply unable to access due to a change in legality or licensing issues.
What started with an email by Sony regarding the removal of digital content soon turned into debates and discussions around the culture of purchasing things digitally (including online subscription services) versus owning a physical copy of the same.
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