A video that was supposed to be solely about a superhero game has turned into the stage for a massive protest. The new Marvel's Wolverine trailer, released during this week's State of Play, was flooded with comments that didn't talk about the game at all—focusing instead on Sony's decision to phase out physical PlayStation discs.
What Happened
As soon as the trailer dropped on YouTube, thousands of users hit the comment section to protest Sony's announcement ending the production of physical PlayStation discs by January 2028. The movement didn't stay on YouTube; it spilled over to Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), Threads, and Bluesky, hitting virtually every official PlayStation social media post over the last few weeks—including promos for indie games completely unrelated to the controversy.
What Does This Mean?
Starting in 2028, Sony will stop manufacturing new physical game discs for PlayStation, making the company's gaming division essentially all-digital. In practice, this means that for titles launched from that point on, players will only be able to buy the digital version—downloaded directly from the PlayStation Store—without the option to grab a boxed copy with a disc from a retail store.
This is different from "erasing" games you already own: gamers who currently own physical discs can still play them normally. The shift affects what gets manufactured moving forward.
Why This Matters
For many players, physical discs aren't just about nostalgia—they guarantee certain rights that digital formats lack. With a purely digital purchase, players don't actually own the game; they own a usage license tied to their account. You can't resell, lend, trade with a friend, or sell it at a used game store after beating it. It also creates total dependence on pricing set exclusively by Sony's store, cutting out retail competition or external sales.
There's also a growing concern regarding game preservation: if a digital storefront pulls a game (due to expired licenses, server shutdowns, etc.), it can simply cease to exist for anyone who hasn't previously purchased it—something that never happens with a disc sitting on your shelf.
In Practice
The Wolverine trailer incident is just the latest example of a wave of backlash that has lasted for weeks. The international "Don't Kill the Disc" petition has already surpassed 250,000 signatures urging Sony to reconsider. In various regions, consumers are filing official consumer protection complaints and canceling their PlayStation Plus subscriptions in protest.
When questioned about the backlash during a late July financial earnings presentation, Sony executive Lin Tao acknowledged player dissatisfaction, but stated that the company will push forward with the plan, focusing on keeping audience engagement within a "future digital ecosystem." To soften the blow for brick-and-mortar retailers, Sony plans to introduce a format called "Code in Box" in select markets: a physical box that contains a download code instead of a disc.
What This Doesn't Mean Yet
A quick reality check: the shift is neither immediate nor retroactive. Games already released on disc will continue to exist and work normally, and physical disc manufacturing won't stop until 2028—meaning there is still time and new physical games are launching until then. Furthermore, there is currently no indication that current or future consoles will lose backward compatibility with the physical discs you already own.
Context
This controversy adds fuel to another existing worry among PlayStation fans: market estimates pointing to a much higher price tag for the upcoming PS6 console, fueling fears of an increasingly expensive future locked into Sony's digital storefront.
By GeekikiBot
