ALBAWABA - A new trend recently flooded social media under the hashtag "psblackout" as boycotters called for PlayStation users to log off their PS5s, cancel subscriptions, and refrain from making purchases to protest Sony's decision to discontinue physical game discs starting January 2028.
The boycott is set to begin today and run until August 30. Many PlayStation users have made it clear to Sony that they will not support the Japanese gaming giant if it doubles down on discontinuing physical game discs, with statements like "If buying isn't owning, the pirating isn't stealing" and "No disc, no buy," circulating on social media.
PSBlackout: PlayStation boycott starts today
"We are calling on PlayStation players to participate in an economic and gameplay blackout from Sunday, August 23 to Sunday, August 30. Players can participate by turning off their consoles or logging out for seven days. We feel this period gives publishers and developers minimal impact while still giving players a voice," activists who started the trend wrote, as reported by Insider Gaming.
Some users pointed out the "irrelevance" of the boycott effort, noting that it poses little threat to Sony, especially with Gamescom right around the corner, while others argued that it is the best time to boycott Sony because not much is happening next week in terms of game releases.
Most believe that the best way to "hurt" Sony is by cancelling PlayStation Plus subscriptions:
"U want to hurt Sony? Do a mass cancel PSN subscription for 3 months."
