Sony's plans to phase out physical PlayStation media by 2028 have prompted fans to organise a week-long "blackout" protest, urging PS5 owners to unplug their consoles and avoid all logins, play sessions and purchases on Sony platforms. The action, promoted by a Twitter/X user called "Does It Play?", is intended to hit Sony where it hurts most: engagement metrics, showing the company that even its most active users are unhappy with the shift away from discs.

The protest is scheduled to run from 7pm local time on Sunday 23rd August until 7pm on Sunday 30th August. Organisers argue this timeframe minimises disruption to publishers and developers while still sending a clear message to Sony, and their statement cites broader grievances beyond physical media, including studio closures, a focus on live-service games, cancelled fan events and neglect of PSVR2 and various franchises. It remains unclear how many players will take part, but the campaign reflects growing frustration among sections of Sony's fanbase, even though Sony maintains the move away from discs reflects consumer trends.