Not just digital games; apparently the PS4 requires network connectivity at least once for physical games too: https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2021/04/the-loomin

Not just digital games; apparently the PS4 requires network connectivity at least once for physical games too: https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2021/04/the-looming-software-kill-switch-lurking-in-aging-playstation-hardware/ https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2021/04/the-looming-software-... Why? Uh, trophies, apparently. But it does mean that unless Sony issues a firmware update changing this, a PS4 will be useless once they shut down its online servers and its CMOS battery dies.