Sony has signalled its intention to pull some PlayStation content even from those who bought it, sparking concern from customers.
In a brief notice on the PlayStation website, Sony said it planned to remove hundreds of Discovery films from users’ video libraries, preventing them from watching the content they’d paid money for. Sony explained the decision as being due to “content licensing arrangements with content providers”.
Here’s the statement in full:
As of 31 December 2023, due to our content licensing arrangements with content providers, you will no longer be able to watch any of your previously purchased Discovery content and the content will be removed from your video library.
We sincerely thank you for your continued support.
Thank you,
PlayStation Store
There follows a long list of affected video content, which includes over 1,000 seasons of shows, including Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman, Tanked, MythBusters, and An Idiot Abroad.
The decision has sparked a backlash online, and fuelled concern around ownership of digital media. Video game preservation is a hot topic within the industry, but the issue of content removal from digital platforms is top of mind of movie and TV makers, too. Last month, Oscar-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro backed Oppenheimer director Christopher Nolan in championing physical media amid controversial moves by streamers that have seen some films pulled from availability.
Redditor skatern8r said they would never lose the Discovery shows they had paid for. "I just received an email from PS about how the end of the year due to licensing arrangements I will no longer be able to watch any of my previously purchased Discovery content," skatern8r said. "Is there a way I can save this content? I use PS4... But I have bought many seasons of shows such as Dual Survival that I do not wish to lose. I was actually under the impression since I owned it, I wouldnt ever lose it..."
There is currently no way to back up purchased PlayStation Store video content from a PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5. They cannot be transferred to a disc by any means.
Here's some more reaction:
Tell us again how having internet helps you in cases like this. #PlayStationDiscovery content will be gone by the end of the year due to licensing arrangements expiring. pic.twitter.com/Da4vSzsRc9
— Does it play? (@DoesItPlay1) December 1, 2023
@Sony, @PlayStation/@AskPlayStation, @Discovery, I’m expecting a FULL refund for all my purchases immediately.
— PepsiManX360 🇺🇸 🇵🇷 🇪🇨 🦅🗽 (@PepsiManX360) December 2, 2023
I PURCHASED all these TV shows on YOUR platform and you’re all removing MY purchased content.@FTC @linakhanFTC @bbb_us#PlayStation #PS5 #FTC #Discovery pic.twitter.com/AkcZDTRdNb
Wild. If you "purchased" any of these titles via Playstation, they are going to disappear soon and too bad for you.
— DrewMcWeeny (@DrewMcWeeny) December 3, 2023
Buying digital media is simply renting with an open-ended expiration date. They can and will take it from you if they feel like it.https://t.co/t40XxwElUM
If I only played PlayStation, I’d be really concerned about an all digital future, this is bad and it’s crazy no one is talking about it pic.twitter.com/gEOV8oQnnY
— Roadhammer Darktide (@roadhouse2100) December 1, 2023
Gamers are starting to receive this email from #PlayStation telling them that all content on the #Discovery streaming service will be removed on December 31, 2023, EVEN that which was purchased directly by users.
— THOMAS (@x_gamer_kid) December 3, 2023
Absolutely, shameful this should change our minds about digital! pic.twitter.com/9MDiu1xaKq
PlayStation announced that individuals who purchased Discovery content through their platform will have their purchased content removed December 31st, 2023
— vx-underground (@vxunderground) December 2, 2023
This is why internet piracy is alive and well. pic.twitter.com/87bcqZwHWR
The removal of @Discovery content that people purchased, on the @PlayStation store, is pathetic. If you pay for a product and it is removed where you can not access it, they should give you a refund. (Being banned is another story) Shame on Discovery and PlayStation for this.
— John Price - AwashFern2 XBox Gamertag (@JPrice02) December 3, 2023
Oh wow. @PlayStation is going to be in for a class action lawsuit over the Discovery stuff. Removing purchased content after purchase is theft. These kind of actions only validate piracy.
— Jared (@JaredWyns) December 2, 2023
I love how thanks to the discovery stuff with PlayStation people have finally realised that unless you own it physically or have a drm free downloaded copy you own nothing today. You just own the license to play that media and it can be revoked at any time.