It seems that Sony isn’t getting a breather from all the controversies coming from all corners. It’s not a surprise considering that a lot of people don’t want to go on the digital route. It’s fine if Sony wants to go for the digital route, but there should be options. Now, there is a movement called the SONY PLAYSTATION BLACKOUT.
What is this Blackout all about?
The concept is simple: from August 23 to 30, 2026, PlayStation players will not use their console. This means that they will not be playing, buying anything from the store, or going online. Simply put, just leave your PS5 turned off until the last day. It is a boycott, so to speak, and this will definitely send a message that players want to have continued support for physical copies.
Will this work?
It’s hard to say, but a simple answer would be no. The boycott itself has a duration of just a week. So, when that boycott period is over, people will just restart playing on their PS5s again. Who knows, maybe some already gave up and started playing again halfway through the boycott. Plus, how would this one-week boycott affect Sony?
Let’s say that the boycott worked for the duration. Sony’s stock is down, and it looks grim; then one week later, things are back to normal. The other thing to keep in mind is that there isn’t a new game that is hot right now for the PS5. Technically, even if there was no boycott, players aren’t just buying anything new. They’ll just buy or replay old games for their system.
It looks very bleak for people who want physical copies
Sony isn’t the only one pushing for this. You have Rockstar Games pushing for only digital as well when they eventually release GTA 6. This game is having some trouble right now with hackers and leakers trying to get out videos of the game. What’s worse is that they may be able to pump out a working copy, but that’s just speculation.
Even the leakers want GTA 6 to release a physical copy of the game. They made a statement that if Rockstar or Sony doesn’t comply, then they’ll pump out more leaks of the game. That’s the strange part: Sony has nothing to do with GTA 6 other than having it on their platform, and they’re getting hit by it. One fact is that the game is so big that it will not fit on one disc. It’s highly unlikely that people want more than one disc.
In a digital future
We’re jumping the gun, but if the future does go digital only, it isn’t entirely bad. Some people find convenience when it comes to buying digital-only games. The danger is that you lose access to those games should they be removed. If the games on Steam are gone, your PC can still function as a PC. If it happens to your PS5 or PS6, then it just becomes a giant piece of paper weight, so it is understandable why people are worried, and some can’t be bothered.
