PlayStation 5 physical game fans are preparing to unplug their consoles this week as a widely reported blackout gets underway. Protesters frustrated at Sony's decision to stop manufacturing discs in 2028 have been encouraged to turn off their consoles and avoid playing from August 23 through August 30.
Impact on Ecosystem and Releases
The protest aims to reduce Sony’s daily active users, which is one of the platform holder's most important performance metrics, alongside halting ecosystem spending. During a financial report late last month, Sony stated it had seen "no impact" to its business from various social media boycotts, including those where players cancelled their PS Plus subscriptions.
Players participating in the boycott will miss out on the Modern Warfare 4 beta, which gets underway for everyone starting at 10 AM PDT on August 28. Additionally, several titles are scheduled to release during the blackout window, including Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol 2, Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, and Star Wars Zero Company.