A campaign urging PlayStation 5 owners to stop using their consoles for a week reflects growing anger over publishers’ control of games and ownership. Sony’s reported plan to end physical disc production in 2028, alongside its reminder that digital software is licensed rather than sold, has sharpened concerns that players could lose control over purchases and access to games. The article argues that this unease now sits alongside wider political and ethical debates around major games companies.

It suggests that players can reduce reliance on large publishers, though doing so involves compromises. Options include keeping or buying older disc-based consoles, playing local multiplayer games, building a lower-cost gaming PC, using independent storefronts such as Steam, Itch.io and GOG, or adopting retro hardware such as a Raspberry Pi or licensed retro consoles. The piece frames these choices as a form of consumer agency, comparable to making ethical decisions about food.