PlayStation’s Decision to Abandon Physical Discs Sparks Outrage Among Gamers
Since Sony announced plans to discontinue physical discs for new PlayStation games from 2028 onwards, gamers have been vocal about their disapproval. The backlash has led to a surge in online activity, with many calling for a U-turn on the decision. This has resulted in great new games, such as the digital-only Denshattack!, being overshadowed by the controversy.
The Denshattack!, developed by Undercoders, is a highly-rated game that deserves attention. However, Sony’s decision to go all-digital has cast a shadow on the game’s release. Some gamers have taken to social media to express their discontent, with some even calling for a boycott of the game on PlayStation consoles.
A Twitter post by Avataryaya, a fighting game content creator, has gained over 700,000 views. The post declares, ‘DO NOT PLAY THIS ON PS5! It’s also out today with a stellar PC port, and a locked 60 on Switch 2! Buy it elsewhere!’ Another Twitter user stated, ‘Genuine banger games are being released that are being buried/lambasted by your awful decision.’ The sentiment is clear: gamers are unhappy with Sony’s decision.
The online backlash has been fueled by the fear that the end of physical discs will have catastrophic consequences for the gaming industry and beyond. The Does it play? Twitter account, which has been at the forefront of the backlash, replied to PlayStation’s Denshattack! post, stating, ‘Stomp bosses is what everyone at PlayStation should have done when the attack on physical media and gaming culture was announced. This will have catastrophic consequences for the gaming industry and beyond. Short-term profit isn’t worth it. Hope you realize before it’s too late.’
While the developers of Denshattack! may want gamers to enjoy their game on any platform, the controversy surrounding the game’s release is unlikely to subside anytime soon. As long as Sony sticks to its decision, new games will likely face a similar backlash.
Analysts Weigh In: No Chance of a U-Turn
Dr. Serkan Toto, CEO of Japanese game industry consultancy firm Kantan Games, believes that even if half a million people cancelled their PlayStation Plus subscription in protest, it would be just a drop in the ocean for Sony. ‘Sony will not reverse this decision,’ he stated. ‘They of course knew what the online reaction would look like, and they now wait for this storm to pass.’
With over 120 million active PlayStation users and 50 million subscribers to PlayStation Plus, Sony’s decision to go all-digital is seen as a lucrative move. Analysts believe that digital sales will continue to grow, and the cost of physical packaging, shipping, and retailer margins can be as high as 20% of the sticker price.
According to Piers Harding-Rolls, games industry analyst at Ampere, the data backs up this claim. ‘Console gaming is the last hold-out for physical media in the gaming sector, but physical product has been declining in importance.’ He points out that in 2013, only 13% of total full games unit sales for Sony consoles were digital. Fast forward to 2025, and this digital share of full game purchases stood at almost 80% of the total.
Robin Zhu, a games analyst at Bernstein, believes that fans of physical media had their chance and blew it. ‘If gamers and preservationists had bought more physical games, Sony wouldn’t have seen the digital sales ratios that justify this decision.’
As the debate rages on, one thing is clear: gamers are unhappy with Sony’s decision to abandon physical discs. Whether this will have a lasting impact on the gaming industry remains to be seen.
