Rewriting and expanding the discussed sanction impact on digital games and distribution channels

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Recent developments indicate that sanctions are already making a strong impact on the market. PSN wallets have begun issuing refunds for pre orders of Ghostwire: Tokyo on the PlayStation 5 platform, signaling a significant shift in how digital purchases are being handled under the new restrictions. This pattern underscores how access to certain digital goods is becoming more limited and how consumer expectations are adjusting to the evolving policy landscape.

Interestingly, those who had secured the extended digital edition of the game managed to receive the full product on March 22, allowing players to progress through the entire campaign prior to any broader enforcement changes. A practical workaround some users considered was disconnecting their console from the internet so that license checks would not occur, although this approach relies on having already acquired the game and may not be feasible for everyone. This mirrors similar experiences observed with Gran Turismo 7, where licensing and online verification played a pivotal role in access to content during the transition period.

Additionally, there appears to be a discrepancy with the PSN wallet: funds may not be readily usable for purchases or refunds, and in some cases cannot be returned to the original payment method. Ghostwire: Tokyo is displayed in the PlayStation Store at a discounted price of 3599 rubles, yet the store itself is currently unavailable in Russia, creating a disconnect between advertised pricing and actual accessibility. This situation highlights how regional store outages can complicate consumer expectations and delay refunds or new purchases for affected users.

Previously, there were rumors about unauthorized access to the PC version, and subsequent reports suggested that the protection measures for the first-person action title were not as robust as hoped. In parallel, 1C has begun distributing digital keys for Steam, signaling a shift in how digital distribution channels navigate the changing regulatory and enforcement environment. As the landscape continues to evolve, players and retailers alike are adapting to new constraints while still pursuing access to desirable content within permitted limits.

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