Sony began enforcing stricter social media guidelines for PlayStation developers around the time it announced plans to phase out disc drives, according to a former developer of God of War spin-off Ragnarök: Laufey. The developer, speaking anonymously, suggested Sony anticipated a hostile reaction from fans and moved to limit what studio staff could say publicly about the change, reflecting the company's sensitivity to backlash over its console strategy.

The claim relates to Sony's broader shift towards digital-only distribution as newer PlayStation hardware, including revisions of the PS5, moves away from disc drives. The former developer said the tightened rules were among the strictest they had encountered, restricting employees from commenting on the decision or engaging with critical fan reaction online. Sony has not publicly commented on the specific social media policy described.