Sony is still reeling from the fallout of axing physical games, with angry PlayStation players sticking to their word and powering forward with a PS5 blackout. While this was originally only supposed to cover a week, the once-loyal fandom has now vowed to extend it indefinitely.
2026 is a massive one for video games, with the big three of Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony each celebrating their own exclusives. PlayStation is arguably entering the busiest period of the year with the September 15 release of Marvel’s Wolverine and the Goliath of GTA VI on November 19.
PS5 blackout extended indefinitely
Although it was originally pencilled in as a week of protesting from August 23 to August 30, updated language reiterates that this is the ‘minimum’ that people should be turning away from their PS5s for.
The @DoesItPlay1 X account is one of the leading voices of the movement, stating: “Everyone is encouraged to go indefinitely until Sony change course. Pedal to the metal or we won’t get anywhere!”
While GTA VI and Marvel’s Wolverine are obviously the big ones on the horizon, the irate PlayStation community could also miss out on Control Resonant, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, and The Blood of Dawnwalker.
The crux of the argument is the move away from physical discs, although the boycott also blames the gaming giant for moving “further apart from its fan base.”
Whether this will take a toll on Sony’s bottom line remains to be seen, but clapping back at critics, Sony CFO Lin Tao previously told investors the company wasn’t seeing “any impact on our business”.
Sticking to his guns, Lao concluded: “As a result of the discontinuation of discs, we don’t see that there will be any negative impact on our business. However, as I already said, the users, the players have attachments, and we have to think about how to respond to that feedback.”
It’s true that Sony’s stocks actually leaped by around 3.2% in the aftermath of the announcement that it was axing physical discs.
Players react to PS5 blackout
The PS5 blackout is causing a stir online, with gamers rallying together and promising they’ll keep their consoles turned off for the foreseeable future. When Does It Play? posted the updated guidance, one player wrote: “I’ve already been going for nearly three weeks now. I will continue to do so. I decided to play my other consoles.”
Another added: “Disconnected from PSN on my PS3 and PS5 yesterday. I will do the same on my Vita and stay off my phone. I am not going the indefinite route but I’ll support the cause this week. Hopefully makes a dent.”
Others were less convinced that it’ll work, with someone else musing: “Spoiler alert: Sony won’t change course. it’s still a good idea to send a strong message but yeah, unless a significant amount joins (25% of the install base, minimum) they’ll stick to their strategy.”
Another concluded: “Cry me a river and grow up. Even car music has gone digital. And guess what? I literally bought a couple of games from the PlayStation Store today. You can keep crying about digital games while the rest of us enjoy them.”
Many were asking how many people are actively taking part in the blackout, but as those metrics are impossible to track, we’ll likely never know how many have truly turned their backs on the Blue Team.
Featured Image Credit: Rockstar Games
