Sony reportedly anticipated severe backlash over its decision to end PlayStation 5 disc production and issued unusually strict social media guidelines to stop staff commenting on the controversy, according to God of War Laufey writer Alanah Pearce. Speaking in a YouTube video, Pearce said PlayStation first-party studio employees told her these were the strictest communication guidelines they had ever seen issued, indicating Sony knew from the outset that the move would provoke a major public relations problem.

Sony announced earlier this month that physical disc production for new PS5 games will end from January 2028, with releases after that point available only via the PlayStation Store and digital retail formats; existing disc-based titles are unaffected. The company has framed the change as a natural response to shifting consumer preferences towards digital media, but the announcement triggered a high-profile petition and sustained criticism across livestreams and social media from fans concerned about ownership and game preservation. Pearce said she herself has received guidelines about what she can say publicly, though she described this instance as by far the strictest, and suggested Sony is unlikely to comment further on the backlash.