Why PlayStation gamers are angry with Sony: PS5 blackout, digital-only games, rising prices and more
Follow UsPlayStation fans are boycotting Sony in the PS5 Blackout.
Sony’s move towards digital-only games has upset gamers.
Rising PS5 prices have added to the backlash.
Sony has offended the PlayStation gaming community, and this time, players are not staying silent. The company recently announced that it will stop manufacturing physical game discs for new PlayStation releases starting in January 2028. Many players have raised their voices against the decision, with around 3,45,000 people also signing a petition called ‘Don’t Kill the Disc’. Despite officially acknowledging the petition, Sony has remained firm in its stance. The feud between the company and gamers has now taken a more serious turn, as PlayStation users and fans have called for a voluntary boycott against the company, known as the PS5 Blackout. Here’s everything you need to know to understand why gamers are angry with Sony.
SurveyPS5 Blackout: What is it?
The PS5 Blackout is a protest organised by PlayStation fans and gamers and is majorly led by a group called ‘Does It Play?’. This is a voluntary boycott of PlayStation for a week, as the gamers will not turn on their consoles and log in to their PSN accounts.
Not only that, but gamers will also avoid any spending on the PlayStation Store. This is especially important because games like Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol 2, Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, and Star Wars: Zero Company are also set to be released during the blackout period.
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Sony vs gamers: How it started
The core complaint of the PS5 fans is that Sony is ending physical disc production, which is practically cutting off options to trade, sell, or lend games. Fans argue that digital purchases only grant a licence, one that can be revoked at any time.
That fear initially was seeded as Sony removed hundreds of movies from PS5 libraries earlier this year, reminding buyers that owning something digitally is not the same as owning it forever. And now, Sony has also started sending mail to the users stating that their digital library is just a long-term rental agreement.
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However, this wasn’t the only thing that led to the protest, as the anger is deeply rooted in the company’s previous decisions, which include raising console prices. Sony raised prices across its entire PS5 lineup in India as well as across the world; the standard console now costs Rs 69,990 and the Digital Edition at Rs 49,990.
These concerns have also led many players to feel that Sony is prioritising profits over the community that helped build its gaming empire. They want the company to take notice and address these concerns before it is too late.
When will the PS5 Blackout end?
The PS5 Blackout is a week-long voluntary protest that began on August 23, 2026, at 7:00 PM IST. The protest is scheduled to continue for one week and will officially end on August 30, 2026, at 7:00 PM IST.
