Critics of Sony's plan to discontinue physical PlayStation game discs from January 2028 are calling on gamers to boycott the platform for a week in August, in protest at what they see as an abandonment of consumer choice. The campaign, driven largely by the "Does it play?" account on X and viewed nearly a million times, urges fans to avoid logging in, playing or purchasing anything on Sony platforms during the week-long #PSBlackout. Sony has defended the move as a natural response to shifting consumer habits towards digital formats, but the decision has provoked backlash from gamers concerned about ownership and game preservation, as well as from industry bodies.

Sony said physical disc production for new titles would end from January 2028, with existing and upcoming pre-2028 disc releases unaffected. Industry data cited in support of the shift shows only seven PlayStation games sold more than 100,000 physical copies in the US so far this year. However, the UK's Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA) pushed back, noting that 25% of under-25s still buy discs, with chief executive Kim Bayley calling the decision "a triumph of corporate convenience over consumer choice." Sceptics note that video game boycotts have historically struggled to achieve their aims, and the timing coincides with the release of the eagerly awaited Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2.