The weeklong PlayStation 5 boycott continues as gamers voice their frustration over Sony's decision to stop manufacturing physical discs. One reader, who identifies as DB Expert, confirmed their participation, stating they are 'still very annoyed about Sony stopping making discs and want to make my voice heard.' The reader, who owns an Xbox Series X and Switch alongside the PS5, noted they purchased the console only about a year ago and would not have bought it had they known about the disc production halt beforehand.
Boycott Participation and Industry Reactions
Another reader, Andrew J., detailed an extensive personal boycott, including uninstalling the PlayStation app and unsubscribing from the PlayStation YouTube channel for the week. Andrew J. emphasized their role as a collector of physical games and films, citing indie titles and re-releases on PS4 and PS5, such as Rocket Knight and Zombies Ate My Neighbours. They raised a critical question about third-party disc manufacturing: 'Couldn’t Sony let a third party print the physical discs so these companies that rely on selling physical copies of games... still operate? and Sony still take a cut of the profits.' The reader referenced companies like Limited Run Games, Super Rare, Lost in Cult, and iam8bit, and pointed to the example of Goodboy Galaxy, a Kickstarter game released on Switch and PC with a physical Game Boy Advance version, proving that physical media can persist even for older consoles.
Mixed Views on the Protest
Not all readers are fully committed to the boycott. Munson, who played The Duskbloods network test over the weekend, praised the game's graphics, saying it 'basically looks at least as good as Elden Ring and I don’t think anyone would guess it was a Switch 2 game if they just watched a video.' They appreciated the 'extreme' jumping mechanics and found the game's rules complicated but similar to Elden Ring Nightreign, concluding they are 'interested' but unsure about purchasing.
In contrast, Johnson expressed astonishment at the recent GTA 6 leaks, calling them 'on another level completely' compared to past incidents like the Marvel’s Wolverine hack. They speculated that Rockstar's security should have been 'absolutely watertight,' and predicted the company would be 'absolutely furious.' Johnson also joked that if a similar leak happened to the Zelda: Ocarina Of Time remake, Nintendo would likely cancel it outright.
Regional Sales Data and Xbox Anniversary Irony
An anonymous reader highlighted a regional breakdown of physical versus digital game sales, noting that in France and Australia, over 50% of some games are purchased physically, including Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Resident Evil Requiem. The reader argued this data makes Sony's decision to cut physical discs 'all the more baffling' and suggested the company could have allowed publishers to decide on a game-by-game basis.
Tetroevil pointed out the irony of the Xbox 25th anniversary coinciding with the boycott, noting that despite releases like Forza, Halo, and Gears Of War, 'nobody cares and instead of celebrating the anniversary they’ve just underlined how irrelevant Xbox is.' They added that there 'has been no reason' to own an Xbox in the last 15 years, though they expressed sympathy for executives who might only afford 'one new Ferrari this year.'
Switch 2 Impressions and Remake Debates
Simon shared positive first impressions of the Nintendo Switch 2, having finally purchased one. They praised Mario Kart World despite criticisms, calling the Grand Prix 'a bit rubbish' but the Knockout Tour mode effective. They also highlighted Resident Evil Requiem's visuals and gameplay, and described the Yoshi game as 'odd' and seemingly aimed at five-year-olds. Simon eagerly anticipates the Star Fox remake, which they called 'the crown jewel,' and expressed hope for a similar graphics and music update for the Zelda: Ocarina Of Time remake.
Rigird discussed the challenges of remaking Ocarina Of Time, particularly regarding Hyrule Field, suggesting that expanding it like Breath Of The Wild would 'really change the look and feel' but might be the necessary compromise. They admitted a general dislike for remakes, preferring new content over revisiting existing games.
GameCentral noted an upcoming interview with Limited Run Games that will address many of these physical media issues, though it may take a week or two to publish due to a busy schedule. The boycott's impact remains to be seen, but the discussion highlights a growing divide between Sony's strategy and consumer preferences for physical ownership.
