A preservation advocacy group has organized a global boycott called PSBlackout to protest Sony’s decision to stop producing new PlayStation games on physical discs beginning in 2028. The action calls on players to avoid PlayStation systems and services for seven days, from Aug. 23 to Aug. 30.
How the PSBlackout will work
DoesItPlay, the organization behind the campaign, urges participants to refrain from any PlayStation-related activity during the weeklong protest. The group published guidelines asking users to:
- not turn on their PlayStation consoles;
- not sign in to PlayStation Network;
- not play games on PlayStation systems;
- not purchase games or digital content from the PlayStation Store.
The boycott is scheduled to start on Aug. 23 at 7:00 p.m. local time and conclude at the same hour on Aug. 30.
Reasons behind the protest
DoesItPlay says Sony’s move to end disc production was the final trigger after a series of decisions that have alienated parts of the PlayStation community. In its public statements, the group lists several grievances, including:
- studio closures;
- a shift toward games-as-a-service models;
- cancellation of fan events;
- reduced support for PlayStation VR2;
- the lack of returns for franchises longed for by players.
The organization describes the 2028 disc discontinuation as “the last straw.”
Planned impact and limitations
Organizers say the boycott was designed to limit harm to developers and publishers while signaling consumer dissatisfaction directly to Sony. The intended effect is a temporary reduction in service usage and digital purchases during the protest window, which could create short-term economic pressure.
However, DoesItPlay acknowledges that the campaign’s effectiveness depends on how many players actually participate.
Related petition growth
The PSBlackout runs alongside the “Don’t Kill The Disc” petition aimed at persuading Sony to keep releasing physical copies. According to the organizers, the petition reached more than 345,000 signatures on July 27, up from about 120,000 earlier in the month.
Sony response
As of now, Sony has not issued an official response to the PSBlackout or to criticism over its decision to end production of new physical PlayStation games. The company has remained publicly silent on social media reactions while community-led protests and campaigns continue.
