Unearthed battery issue gives every PS4 an expiration date

Sony’s PlayStation 4 has a built in expiration date according to new information uncovered by the modding community.

The issue in question stems from a battery inside the console that operates the system’s real-time clock. Should this battery die, also known as Error CE 34878-0, it will require all digital purchases stored on the hard drive to be re-authenticated via Sony’s servers. It will also disable the Blu-ray drive until such authentication can take place. This is because real-time clock data is used to manage software licensing. Essentially confirming that the game was legitimately purchased, and that the player isn’t attempting to install something via cheeky means.

This latest tidbit has once again raised alarms over game preservation. Should Sony shut down PlayStation 4 servers, and then the battery fails, which it inevitably will, it basically tuns the console into a paperweight. It will neither be able to play digital nor physical games. Granted, such a shutdown likely won’t happen for many years down the road. Especially given the PS5 supports PS4 titles, and will require those servers to be maintained in order to do so. The batteries are also modular, and can be replaced by the end user. That is if they don’t mind tearing apart the entire thing down to the motherboard to get at it. However, that doesn’t excuse the fact that the console has been designed to eventually fail, even if the rest of the hardware is still in good working order. And when it will fail is really difficult to predict. It also kind of forces players to buy a PS5 down the road if they want to maintain their collection.

What this basically means is that all the concerns expressed about an all-digital future, some 10-15 years ago, are now coming to fruition. Thanks to DRM, any purchases made will be rendered null and void after an undetermined period of time. Adding further leverage to the idea that you’re not buying games, just leasing them. Which means a grim future for those who are trying to preserve the medium’s legacy.

So far Sony has issued a statement on the issue. But given SIE President Jim Ryan’s past comments regarding older games, an official solution is unlikely. Leaving unofficial jailbreaks, emulators, and custom firmware as the only option for players. Once again, DRM is hurting legitimate customers and making piracy the only solution. Well, at least how the industry defines piracy. However, there’s also the issue now that many games are released incomplete. So even if you can get your old discs working again, you may still end up with inferior versions of your collection years down the road.