Study Finds Almost Half of PS5 Disc Backlash Came from Fake Accounts
Research by Cyabra found that almost half of replies to official PlayStation accounts about August’s PS5 blackout campaign came from inauthentic profiles. The finding suggests fake accounts amplified online criticism of Sony’s plan to stop making physical games in 2028, though it does not mean the discontent itself was fabricated.
Cyabra identified nearly 1,000 fake profiles, which generated more than one million views and over 100,000 shares; it said misspelt campaign hashtags were amplified by bots at a rate of almost 90%. The most-engaged posts still came from genuine users, and 28% of key posts were by accounts with fewer than 5,000 followers. Separate US data found no significant change to PlayStation engagement statistics, although the article says Sony’s financial report is still awaited.
- Nearly half of replies to PlayStation posts about the blackout were inauthentic.
- Cyabra identified almost 1,000 fake profiles.
- Genuine users also drove some of the most-engaged posts.
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PlayStation 5 games are sold both as downloads and on physical discs. Sony has said it plans to stop making physical games in 2028, a change that would leave players more reliant on digital purchases and access through online stores.
The proposed shift has drawn criticism from players who value owning discs, sharing or reselling games, or keeping access if a digital store closes. Sony runs the PlayStation brand and its official social media accounts; Cyabra is a research company that studies activity by inauthentic online profiles.
The debate matters because it involves how games are bought and kept, as well as how online campaigns shape public discussion. Evidence that fake profiles amplified some criticism does not establish that players’ underlying concerns were invented.