DNAS

Dynamic Network Authentication System (DNAS) was a proprietary authentication system created by Sony Computer Entertainment Inc made for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, and PSX. DNAS retrieved information about a user's hardware and software for authentication, copy protection, account blocking, system, rules, or game management and other purposes.[1][2]

DNAS Logo

PlayStation 2

DNAS used a set of codes in a protected area of the game DVD together with serial numbers from the console EEPROM for online authentication. Game backups or copies using regular DVD-R burners do not have this protected area, and thus games failed to authenticate to the servers. To circumvent this, programs were made available that patch the client portion of the game to report hardcoded values without attempting to access the protected area of the DVD. This made it possible to play online with game backups and illegal copies.

Some games have a double DNAS check to prevent these patches. These techniques were introduced by Electronic Arts in most of their later games.

Discontinuation

The DNAS service was terminated on 4 April 2016 for NTSC-U and PAL regions after the last official online game, Final Fantasy XI, was taken offline on 31 March 2016, but continued to support NTSC-J PS2 titles and the PlayStation Store on the PSP.[3] Unofficial private servers allowed game play on other PS2 games until 4 April.[4] Certain games continued to work beyond 4 April and are still operational thanks to certain workarounds.[5]

References
  1. "PlayStation® Official Site: Consoles, Games, Accessories & More". us.playstation.com. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  2. ""DNAS" (Dynamic Network Authentication System)". Sony. Archived from the original on 1 July 2008. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  3. Frank, Allegra (31 March 2016). "Final Fantasy 11 shut down on consoles today after 14 years". Polygon. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  4. "URGENT! DNAS SHUTDOWN - PS2 Online Gaming". Archived from the original on 25 April 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  5. "Playstation 2 Online - Online Game List". playstation2.onlineconsoles.com. Retrieved 19 July 2023.


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