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Someone’s reportedly been deploying social media bots to defend Sony’s decision to kill physical PlayStation games
A tech YouTuber, Moore's Law is Dead, has claimed that bot or paid accounts are being used on social media to defend Sony's controversial decision to discontinue disc-based physical PlayStation games from 2028. The allegation, detailed in a new video, matters because it suggests an organised effort to sway public opinion on what has become one of gaming's most widely criticised corporate decisions, with Sony otherwise largely silent on the backlash.
The YouTuber examined replies on Sony's social media accounts, finding it difficult to locate genuine defenders of the policy but identifying several accounts showing signs of bot activity, such as AI-generated profile pictures, inconsistent writing styles, or old accounts with posting histories that only stretch back a month. While the use of bots or paid posters to shape online narratives is a well-established tactic in politics, its reported deployment here is being seen by critics as a particularly cynical move, given that public anger over the decision, though it may have quietened somewhat, has not gone away.
In short
- Bots reportedly defend Sony's move to end physical PlayStation discs
- YouTuber Moore's Law is Dead found accounts showing typical bot traits
- No proof yet of who is behind the accounts
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Those concerned about the allegation argue that coordinated bot deployments to manufacture support for unpopular policies represent corporate manipulation that corrupts public discourse. If Sony is indeed obscuring authentic consumer criticism through artificial accounts, it prevents honest engagement with legitimate concerns and privileges perception management over genuine dialogue with its customer base, particularly problematic when the company remains otherwise silent on substantive criticism.
The case against
Those questioning the allegation would emphasise that identifying a handful of suspicious accounts does not prove coordinated Sony deployment, which is an extraordinary claim requiring robust evidence. They might note that companies legitimately explain their business decisions and that genuine enthusiasm for new policies exists among real users too; not every account defending the policy is necessarily astroturfing. Until clearer proof of orchestration emerges, sceptics argue it is unfair to assume malicious intent.
Explained simply
Sony announced in 2024 that physical PlayStation games would be discontinued from 2028, with all future releases available only as digital downloads. This decision has sparked sustained criticism from gamers concerned about ownership rights, offline access, and the long-term preservation of games. It has become one of gaming's most widely criticised corporate decisions.
A tech YouTuber known as Moore's Law is Dead has claimed that bot accounts or paid social media posters are being used to defend Sony's policy online. The YouTuber examined replies to Sony's social media posts and identified numerous accounts showing bot-like characteristics, such as AI-generated profile pictures or short posting histories, whilst genuine human defenders were difficult to find. The use of bots or paid accounts to shape online narratives is a well-known tactic in politics and other industries.
The allegation is significant because it suggests an organised attempt to artificially inflate support for an unpopular decision whilst Sony has remained largely silent on public concerns. If accurate, such a tactic could be seen as dismissive of legitimate consumer worries, particularly given that public opposition to the physical games discontinuation remains substantial.