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Sony’s discless PlayStation PR disaster isn’t going away as State of Play once again flooded with protests
Sony's PlayStation State of Play broadcast was overwhelmed by protest messages instead of discussion of its game announcements, as viewers flooded the YouTube and Twitch chats with slogans like "NO DISC NO BUY" and demands for a new Destiny title. The backlash reflects two separate grievances converging at once: anger over Sony's move to end physical game support and frustration with the direction of the Destiny series, both of which have become persistent PR headaches the company has struggled to shake off.
The disc protest stems from Sony's confirmation that physical game support will end in January 2028, after which only digital codes will be sold, a decision it has defended despite sustained fan anger and even argued in an ongoing class action lawsuit that "reasonable consumers" understand they don't own the digital games they buy. The Destiny protest follows the winding down of major support for Destiny 2 and significant staffing cuts at developer Bungie, which appears focused on Marathon despite that game's troubles, prompting fans to campaign loudly, if unlikely successfully, for Destiny 3. Eurogamer notes that although most game sales are now digital, the depth of feeling among fans means these controversies look set to keep dogging Sony.
In short
- Sony's State of Play chat was flooded with anti-Sony protest messages
- Fans are angry over the planned 2028 end of physical PlayStation games
- Others demanded Destiny 3 amid Bungie cuts and Destiny 2 support winding down
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Ending physical game support could reflect how most sales have shifted to digital, allowing Sony to simplify distribution and focus resources on the formats most customers use. Sony may also argue that digital purchases have always been subject to licensing terms, and that concentrating Bungie’s support on current projects is a practical response to limited resources and changing player demand.
The case against
Physical games give customers greater control over what they buy, including the ability to lend, resell or keep playing a copy without relying on a digital licence or storefront; removing that option may leave some players feeling they own less for their money. Fans also have reason to want continued investment in Destiny after years of engagement with the series, and may see Bungie’s staffing cuts and focus elsewhere as a loss of confidence in a community that helped build its success.
Explained simply
PlayStation is Sony’s video game console, and its games have traditionally been sold both on discs and as digital downloads. Digital purchases are tied to an online account, while a disc can be kept, lent or resold; Sony says physical game support will end in January 2028.
Destiny is a science fiction game series made by Bungie, a studio Sony owns. Destiny 2 has been the series’ main game for years, but Bungie has reduced its support and cut staff as it works on another game, Marathon. Some fans want a new Destiny game, while others are concerned about the series’ future.
The protests reflect different concerns about how Sony and Bungie are handling games and players’ purchases. They matter to Sony because, even as digital sales have become common, some players place value on owning and keeping physical copies and on the future of long-running game series.