PS5 Users Report Purchased Content Permanently Revoked Without Refund

Digital ‘ownership’ of media is incredibly problematic, and PlayStation’s latest move proves precisely why.

PlayStation has revealed that it’ll soon be permanently deleting more than 550 film and television products from users’ video libraries - and they’ll be revoked without refund or compensation.

While many of us primarily use our consoles for gaming, as intended, they also boast a number of other functions.

You can use PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5 consoles to access film and television streaming services, for example, or - relevantly here - purchase digital entertainment via Sony Pictures Core.

Sony

Unfortunately for PlayStation users, Sony’s partnership with film production company StudioCanal is coming to an end with any of users’ purchased works set to be revoked on 1 September.

Twitter/X user somatyk took to the social media site to share the email they received from the PlayStation Store.

“As of 1 September 2026 due to our content licensing agreements, you will no longer be able to watch any of your previously purchased Studio Canal content and the content will be removed from your video library,” it began, before linking to “a full list of affected titles that will no longer be supported”.

You can view the full list of over 550 titles on PlayStation’s website. There are plenty of lesser-known films included but they sit alongside major hits.

The most popular titles among those affected include the likes of Alan Patrdige, Apocalypse Now: The Final Cut, Attack The Block, Bridget Jones’ Diary and its subsequent sequels, Evil Dead, Hot Fuzz, Moonlight, Paddington, Rambo First Blood, Tekken, Terminator 2: Judgement Day, and many more.

It isn’t just films that’ll be affected with the list including several television shows too, with examples including Taboo and American Gods.

READ MORE: The Biggest Video Games Coming To PS5, Xbox, And PC In July 2026

Given that Sony hasn’t currently indicated that refunds or compensation will be available, you can imagine the dismay and outrage of PlayStation users.

“It’s wild that that’s allowed,” replied one user to somatyk.

“Anyone who bought digital items should be given a full refund AND a small amount for their time being f**king wasted for purchasing through you in the first place,” added another.

Someone remarked, “And they wonder why people pirate things. You don’t even get a refund there.”

This Proves Why The Outrage Surrounding GTA VI’s Physical Copies Is Justified

This links into a wider discussion surrounding digital ownership as it becomes ever more commonplace.

When you digitally purchase a game, film, or television series, you’re more often than not actually just purchasing a temporary license that can be revoked.

It’s only if you own all of the relevant software on a physical disc that something is yours to keep forever, which is why it’s so important that we don’t let physical copies die out.

GTA VI has recently come under fire for offering a ‘code in a box’ for its physical version, rendering it not truly a physical version at all; it’s a digital copy with a useless physical box.

As for the StudioCanal fiasco, Sony previously ceased a partnership with Discovery which resulted in a similar situation of users losing out on paid media.

After much backlash, Sony was suddenly able to come to a new licensing agreement with Discovery, so hopefully we’ll see something similar here with StudioCanal as PlayStation users should not be left out of pocket.

At the time of writing, PlayStation is yet to offer a statement on the debacle.