Sony is facing continued backlash over its decision to stop producing physical game discs. It appears the company expected that pushback and reportedly imposed unusually strict social media guidelines on PlayStation employees.
Former Santa Monica Studio writer Alanah Pearce discussed the reported restrictions in a YouTube video posted on July 22. Pearce said she learned about the guidelines from employees working at PlayStation’s first-party studios.
“People working at PlayStation first-party studios told me that Sony had the strictest social media guidelines for this particular thing,” Pearce said.
Pearce explained that Sony regularly instructs employees about what they can publicly discuss.
“I was under a lot of guidelines when I was working on God of War: Laufey. I still am, and they did send me guidelines regarding what I could say on the day that the game was announced,” she explained.
A scene from God of War Laufey – PlayStation
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However, she claimed the rules surrounding the physical-media controversy were stricter than anything her sources had previously encountered.
“But in this instance, it is apparently the strictest the employees I spoke to have ever seen regarding public communications.”
Sony Reportedly Expected an Enormous PR Problem
Pearce believes the alleged restrictions demonstrate that Sony anticipated the announcement would create an “enormous PR issue.” The company has continued promoting PlayStation products on social media without directly addressing the growing criticism.
Sony announced on July 1 that it will discontinue physical disc production for new PlayStation games beginning in January 2028. The company attributed the decision to changing consumer preferences and the entertainment industry’s broader shift toward digital distribution.
Games released before the deadline will remain unaffected, while existing PlayStation discs will continue to function. However, all new releases arriving after the cutoff are expected to be sold exclusively through digital storefronts.
PlayStation Studios Hero Banner via PlayStation.com Website
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The decision immediately raised concerns about ownership, preservation, pricing, and consumer choice. The controversy intensified on July 24 when the PlayStation Network suffered a global outage. Gamers relying on digital titles were unable to play for several hours, highlighting one of the potential advantages of physical media.
However, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot has come out in support of Sony. During Ubisoft’s latest earnings call, he acknowledged that there are “pluses and minuses” to moving away from physical media.
“But we think it will not disturb, too much, the industry,” he added.
Given Ubisoft’s recent layoffs, falling stock value, delayed titles, and commercial disappointments, many gamers did not find his assurances particularly reassuring.
Physical-Media Backlash Disrupts PlayStation Marketing
Sony’s silence has not prevented the controversy from spreading into its marketing campaigns. The latest trailer for Marvel’s Wolverine received more than 11,000 comments during its first three days on PlayStation’s YouTube channel.
Many of the most popular responses ignored the trailer itself and instead mocked Sony’s decision to abandon discs.
Scene from the trailer for Marvel’s Wolverine – PlayStation, YouTube
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“Can’t wait for my DISC copy to come,” one viewer wrote.
Another commenter connected Wolverine’s attempt to preserve a photograph in the trailer to the physical-media debate, arguing that the scene demonstrated the importance of tangible possessions.
Sony Cannot Keep the Backlash Contained
The alleged social media restrictions suggest Sony understands that the backlash poses a serious threat to its public image. However, tightly controlling what employees say will not stop customers from dominating PlayStation’s own comment sections.
Unless Sony reverses course or directly addresses those concerns, every new marketing campaign risks becoming another platform for gamers determined to keep physical media alive.
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