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No Disc, No Buy and PS5 Blackout Protests Fail to Impact PlayStation
PlayStation’s quarterly figures show no visible effect from fan campaigns protesting its plans to stop producing physical versions of new games from January 2028. Monthly active users and digital game purchases both rose during the period, suggesting the protests did not dent the reported measures.
Sony recorded 127 million monthly active users, up eight million year on year and two million from the previous quarter. Digital purchases made up 78% of full-game sales, six percentage points higher than a year earlier; revenue from digital games was ¥330.8 billion, compared with ¥43.1 billion from physical games. Sony has not commented on the protests or announced a change to its plans.
In short
- PlayStation reported 127 million monthly active users.
- Digital purchases accounted for 78% of full-game sales.
- Sony has not changed its 2028 physical-release plan.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The figures suggest the protests have not yet changed the behaviour Sony measures: monthly active users and digital purchases both increased, while digital games generated far more revenue than physical copies. Sony could argue that these trends support its planned shift, reflecting how players are choosing to buy games and allowing the company to focus on the formats most in demand.
The case against
A rise in users and digital purchases does not show that players support ending physical releases; other factors may explain the growth, and the figures cover a period before the proposed change takes effect. Physical copies also offer ownership, resale and borrowing options that digital purchases may not, so fans can reasonably see the plans as reducing choice even if current sales trends favour digital.