A group of PlayStation fans is organising a week-long "blackout" of PS5 consoles from 23 to 30 August, urging players to unplug or log out in protest at Sony's decision to phase out physical discs. The action is designed to hit metrics Sony values highly, such as active player numbers, and reflects wider frustration among core fans who feel the platform holder has become increasingly disconnected from its community.

The organisers' statement cites the closure of studios like Bluepoint and Japan Studio, a "misguided" live-service push, cancelled fan events, the abandonment of PS VR2, and the loss of franchises such as Sly Cooper, Resistance, Twisted Metal and SOCOM as evidence of Sony losing touch, with the planned end of physical discs in 2028 described as "the last straw". Push Square's editor, while sympathetic to the underlying sentiment, said he would not personally take part, and noted an accompanying informal poll showed most respondents also did not plan to join the boycott.