The End of PlayStation Physical Discs Has Resurfaced a Forgotten Sony ToS Clause

Sony has once more found itself in the spotlight, and not for the right reasons. Barely a few days ago, the conglomerate decided to phase out physical PlayStation game discs. This was eventually met with severe backlash. If that wasn’t bad enough, a Sony ToS Clause that we found can legally be used to close your PSN account if not used in 36 months. However, for once, it’s not their fault.

The “Scary” Sony ToS Clause Has Been There Since 2009 on PlayStation

Sony recently announced that physical PlayStation game discs would be phased out from 2028 onward. Upon hearing the news, the internet sort of broke. There was a hue and cry about the entire fiasco, and rightfully so. Losing the ability to purchase physical discs is a loss in more ways than one. Gamers will no longer be able to trade or sell pre-owned discs.

Phasing out the game discs was their choice, and the backlash is justified. But the 36-month Sony ToS Clause for PlayStation users isn’t anything new and definitely not something extraordinary. The fact that inactive PSN accounts over 36 months can be deleted has been around since 2009. It has been public knowledge for nearly two decades.

In fact, if anything, the timeline has been extended over the years, from 18 months to 36. Furthermore, once the time’s up, your PSN account will not be deleted overnight. An email will be sent, giving you an additional six months to take action. If you log into your PSN account within the given time or let Sony know you want to keep your account, it stays open.

As mentioned, for once, the backlash is rather unnecessary and meaningless. Unlike the entire debacle of PlayStation basically ending game disc trades, you actually have a say in this matter. You can take action to keep your PSN account working. Of course, some would say that I’m being biased, but it’s just a logical statement.

That said, if you’re an active PSN user, the only thing you need to worry about is the fact that, for now, only physical discs for upcoming games like Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet are being phased out. Other than that, the odds of you losing access to your PlayStation account are very slim. As mentioned by Sony in their ToS, you can just reply to the email and let them know to keep your account open. Make sure you don’t lose access to your email.

Sony’s PSN Clause May Be Legal, But It’s Still a Bad Deal For Players

Coming from a personal perspective of someone who has owned the PS3 and PS4, and now may plan to grab the PS6, this clause in the Sony ToS is horrible. I do understand that 36 months is a lot of time, but life has its own ways of handing you curveballs. If I’m unable to reply to the email within six months, everything I’ve spent money on in my PSN account is lost to time.

Of course, I’ll still be able to boot up any game discs that I have for my PlayStation console, but progress, trophies, and anything else of value are gone. I must now restart from scratch. If you were to ask me if the clause is justifiable, I would say no. Storing basic user information should be something that lasts a decade or more. But then again, I suppose, once you read the ToS and agree to it, the onus of everything falls on you.

All said and done, the resurfacing of this particular Sony ToS Clause can’t be good for the company’s image. Given everything that has happened, including the Stop Killing Games petition, it just makes them look bad. With the internet having a memory of a digital elephant, this will not be forgotten anytime soon.