Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) recently announced that it will completely cease sales of physical disc packages for PlayStation starting in 2028. They cite ESG management and 'digital transformation' as the justification. Consumers who have purchased physical packages are naturally outraged, and even their once-solid fanbase is showing cracks.

The reason this disc exit announcement is causing such significant backlash is that it directly threatens the ecosystem of 'game ownership,' which is the most sensitive nerve for gamers. With the recent 'no-ownership' policies on digital platforms like Steam, and the 'Stop Killing Games' movement sparked by the service termination of Ubisoft's 'The Crew,' consumer frustration has reached a boiling point. By unilaterally taking away the last safety net of physical packages, they have effectively backed themselves into a corner. The news of the PS3 and PS Vita online store closures is just an added blow.

Of course, one cannot simply criticize a company for pursuing profit maximization or exploring new business models. In fact, looking at recent SIE game sales trends, digital sales are overwhelmingly higher than physical package sales. However, their past actions—such as the video mocking Xbox for not allowing game sharing between friends—contrasted with this unilateral policy push that ignores gamer sentiment, is quite disappointing. Especially at a time when the debate over game ownership is so heated.

Some even argue that after the string of failures of SIE's ambitious new live-service games, which were followed by large-scale layoffs to cover the losses, they are now passing the cost burden onto gamers under the guise of eco-friendly ESG management. Even industries outside of gaming are criticizing Sony's digital monopoly moves. Business tactics based on exclusive titles and market dominance are only possible under the assumption that a solid fanbase will continue to support them. Right now, that fanbase is wavering. It has reached a point where even those who purchase games digitally are voicing their opposition. A wise reconsideration is urgently needed.