Last month, the "PlayStation Blackout" initiative took place, calling on PS5 players to refrain from using their consoles or any PlayStation services between August 23-30. This protest was a reaction to Sony's decision to cease physical disc production. Players have now been informed about the outcome of the boycott. Unfortunately, the results are not very impressive.
No Impact on Player Count or Engagement
Circana analyst Matt Piscatella stated that there was no significant change in PlayStation player numbers or overall platform engagement during this period. While no concrete figures or data were provided regarding any changes, it is understood that the impact remained negligible. This outcome was disappointing for those trying to make their voices heard.
Sony has shown no inclination to reconsider its decision regarding physical discs. The company continues to increase its digital sales, including the distribution of digital versions of games through retail channels. The manufacturer has also not yet announced whether the next PlayStation console will feature a disc drive. For Sony, what matters more than how many people turned off their PS5s for a few weeks is whether user perception towards the next console generation will change.
God of War Laufey to be One of the Last PlayStation Exclusive Disc Games
Next year will be PlayStation's final year offering physical disc support. This means that titles like God of War Laufey and possibly Intergalactic: Heretic Prophet will be among the last PlayStation-exclusive physical games. Perhaps things could change, but there's not much reason to be hopeful.
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