Sony announced it will end production of physical discs for all new PlayStation games starting January 2028, shifting fully to digital formats [1, 2, 3]. The company cites shifting consumer preferences, noting that very few PlayStation physical games have sold more than 100,000 units in the US this year, reflecting weak physical disc sales [2]. Sid Shuman, Senior Director at Sony Interactive Entertainment Content Communications, said, "This is a natural direction for Sony Interactive Entertainment to adapt to consumer trends as the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs" [2].
In response, a fan group called DoesItPlay organized a week-long boycott called #PSBlackout, scheduled for August 23 to August 30, 2026. The protest calls on PlayStation users to refrain from logging in, playing, or purchasing anything on Sony’s platforms during this week [1, 2, 3]. According to the group, the boycott aims to express fan dissatisfaction without heavily impacting publishers and developers [1, 3].
The #PSBlackout campaign originated on Twitter/X where the call-to-action has gained nearly 1 million views [1, 2, 3]. The organizer criticized Sony for being disconnected from fans, citing studio closures, cancelled fan events, neglect of PSVR2, and the decision to abandon physical discs as the final breaking point. They said, "Sony wants to abandon fans? Let's give them a small taste of their own medicine!" [1, 3].
The boycott was first announced on July 26, 2026, inviting fans to participate in the silent protest by staying off the PlayStation ecosystem for a full week starting August 23 [1, 2, 3]. Sony’s plan to cease physical disc production will take effect from January 1, 2028, after which all new PlayStation releases will be available only as digital downloads [2, 1, 3].
