PSA: Restoring licenses no longer possible on PS5 for undownloaded games

[Cool hand luke]

After firmware update 24.06-10.00.00, you can now only restore individual licenses on your PS5, and you can only select the individual titles from the list of games you have already downloaded, not from your purchases.

See the patch notes here:

https://www.playstation.com/en-my/support/hardware/ps5/system-software-info/?

The restore licences feature has been improved, and you can now restore one licence at a time.
Go to Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Restore Licences to select the licence that you want to restore.
To restore a licence from the home screen or Game Library, go to the game, press the options button, and then select Restore Licence from the menu.

They call it an improvement, but it is anything but. This needs to be brought to Sony's attention, because it means that any game you lose access to but haven't downloaded is lost for good at this stage. I've contacted support but they're still working from an old script/manual which suggests you can restore all licenses.

 

[Ghaleon]

What?!

I know this has been an ongoing issue for sony going back years but... lol

 

[Gods&Monsters]

Do you have to restore a licence if it's not downloaded?

I still see all of them from Game Library under "Your collection" and "PlayStation Plus".

 

[Cool hand luke]

Do you have to restore a licence if it's not downloaded?

I still see all of them from Game Library under "Your collection" and "PlayStation Plus".

I would imagine you're not entitled to download them at that point, but the problem I'm having is Sony insists I own the free ps+ games for this month and that I just need to restore licenses to see them, which doesn't work. They're not in my library and PSN won't let me redeem them.

Note that rebuilding the database can cause games to disappear from your library too, which makes them inaccessible after the update. Here's another thread corroborating it:

Restoring Licenses.

Hey all, I went to restore licenses on PS5 but now instead of restoring all licenses automatically like it was on PS4 and before on PS5 it asks me to select games among my downloaded list only, did they change it? How do I restore licenses for all games? Thanks in advance. Edit: I'm on the last f...

forum.psnprofiles.com

 

[Gods&Monsters]

I would imagine you're not entitled to download them at that point, but the problem I'm having is Sony insists I own the free ps+ games for this month and that I just need to restore licenses to see them, which doesn't work. They're not in my library and PSN won't let me redeem them.

Note that rebuilding the database can cause games to disappear from your library too, which makes them inaccessible after the update. Here's another thread corroborating it:

Restoring Licenses.

Hey all, I went to restore licenses on PS5 but now instead of restoring all licenses automatically like it was on PS4 and before on PS5 it asks me to select games among my downloaded list only, did they change it? How do I restore licenses for all games? Thanks in advance. Edit: I'm on the last f...

forum.psnprofiles.com

Try redeeming and downloading the PS+ game from the PS app instead of the console. I do that when I get the "something went wrong" error.

Hopefully they give back the option to restore all licences.

 

[Cool hand luke]

Try redeeming and downloading the PS+ game from the PS app instead of the console. I do that when I get the "something went wrong" error.

Hopefully they give back the option to restore all licences.

Tried it - error on both. I'd be pissed if I didn't already own Dead Space but I paid a sub for Doki Doki and WWE 2K24 and I'd rather it not happen again in the future.

I don't want to make this thread about my personal problem which I'm dealing with through PS support, but rather the impossibility to recover games that disappear from your library for any reason, but which you've already purchased.

 

[Summer Nightmares]

I'm new to the Playstation ecosystem, anyone understands how this license thing works? I paid a sub to play dead space a couple of months ago and recently I got it on ps essential. Can I have any sort of problem there?

 

[ethomaz]

I'm new to the Playstation ecosystem, anyone understands how this license thing works? I paid a sub to play dead space a couple of months ago and recently I got it on ps essential. Can I have any sort of problem there?

You should have no problema at all.

It is more a thing to help people mitigate license issues when your console abrupt turn off (for example drop in energy power in your home) and some game license got corrupted... so you can restore it.

To be fair I never had to use that feature.

 

[Summer Nightmares]

You should have no problema at all.

It is more a thing to help people mitigate license issues when your console abrupt turn off (for example drop in energy power in your home) and some game license got corrupted... so you can restore it.

To be fair I never had to use that feature.

Thanks, man!

 

[AllBizness]

Retarded thread, as long as we can download our purchased games from PSN nobody will care. Stop the fearmongering please.

 

[ethomaz]

Retarded thread, as long as we can download our purchased games from PSN nobody will care. Stop the fearmongering please.

I think the OP has a real issue.
Probably is a very rare case but I think he needs a solution from Sony side.

 

[thicc_girls_are_teh_best]

Just another reason platforms like PC (Steam) are looking more and more attractive to more console gamers, honestly.

 

[Cool hand luke]

I'm new to the Playstation ecosystem, anyone understands how this license thing works? I paid a sub to play dead space a couple of months ago and recently I got it on ps essential. Can I have any sort of problem there?

You're fine doing it like that but beware of one issue they still haven't fixed - if you redeem a PS+ essential game, and then that game becomes part of the game catalogue (ps extra) and you download that version, it will override your PS+ essential license. Not personally sure how downloading that version is possible but while this might only be an issue with cross-gen titles it's a real one.

Once the game leaves extra, you lose access to the game completely (including your essential redemption) and can only get it back through contacting support. Success is not guaranteed. If you own the game outright i.e. purchase the license then you won't be affected by downloading ps extra versions.

 

[AllBizness]

Just another reason platforms like PC (Steam) are looking more and more attractive to more console gamers, honestly.

I just don't see it. Games sell way more on console then PC. Silent Hill 2 has a 78% split on PS5. If you look at the Steam charts on any given day then you'll realize PC gamers prefer gaas, it's the opposite on console.

 

[Summer Nightmares]

You're fine doing it like that but beware of one issue they still haven't fixed - if you redeem a PS+ essential game, and then that game becomes part of the game catalogue (ps extra) and you download that version, it will override your PS+ essential license. Not personally sure how downloading that version is possible but while this might only be an issue with cross-gen titles it's a real one.

Once the game leaves extra, you lose access to the game completely (including your essential redemption) and can only get it back through contacting support. Success is not guaranteed. If you own the game outright i.e. purchase the license then you won't be affected by downloading ps extra versions.

Thanks for all that info, very useful for someone new! what a mess of a system :/

 

[rofif]

I restore my license within disc in one hand and dick in another… or something like that but It’s on my shelf ;p