Sony is facing significant public backlash following a social media post promoting its new LX3 vinyl turntable. The marketing campaign, which highlights the “warmth, detail, and ritual of vinyl,” has been labeled as tone-deaf by many users given the company’s recent decision to discontinue physical game disc production.

The criticism stems from a stark contrast in messaging: while Sony is actively moving to end physical media for its gaming division by January 2028, it continues to market physical formats for its audio hardware. The announcement on the Sony Electronics X (formerly Twitter) account has prompted thousands of replies from users questioning the company's strategy and commitment to physical media.

Quick Facts

  • Sony plans to cease the manufacture of game discs in January 2028.
  • The LX3 turntable marketing emphasizes the "ritual of vinyl" and hearing music "the way it was meant to be heard."
  • The backlash coincides with broader protests regarding Sony's shift away from physical game media, including calls for a "PS5 blackout."

The sentiment online is largely one of frustration. Critics are pointing to the perceived hypocrisy of the company pushing a hardware product that relies on physical media for music while simultaneously stripping that same option from its gaming customers. One notable response from the account Does It Play? argued that if physical media is worth supporting as a niche for music, it should hold even greater value for the gaming industry.

This incident is the latest in a series of public relations challenges for the company. Following the announcement to stop manufacturing game discs, the firm has seen negative reactions across its social media platforms. Previous reports indicate that some developers have expressed concern that the company is failing to understand the feelings of its core fanbase, with some even suggesting that the decision to abandon physical discs could lead to a decline in the value of the console hardware itself.

As of now, the company has not issued a statement addressing the criticism regarding the juxtaposition of its vinyl turntable marketing and its gaming strategy.