PlayStation Physical Games Backlash Continues as Players Fear Losing Disc Support on PS6

A new analysis suggests that bot accounts are responsible for a significant portion of the online debate over physical PlayStation games, but concerns about Sony’s reported plans remain widespread among players and developers.

The debate over the future of physical PlayStation games has taken a new turn, following a report suggesting that around 28% of online conversation on the topic comes from bot accounts. The findings have fueled further debate over how real the backlash against Sony's alleged plans really is, with some suggesting that bots are inflaming the controversy.

But just because bots exist doesn’t mean the concerns of players are inherently untrue, especially when you consider that collectors and consumers who prefer buying games on disks still value owning physical games. For many players, physical copies also provide greater control over their libraries, allowing them to collect, trade, and preserve games without relying entirely on digital storefronts and online services.

The analysis apparently considered discussions on X, especially replies to PlayStation posts with messages supporting physical releases.

These included calls for Sony to retain disc drives and keep physical games available for future PlayStation consoles. According to the findings discussed in a recent video by PlayStation commentator Jimmy Champagne, around 28% of the chatter came from accounts identified as bots. 

Bots on X are becoming a bigger problem, bleeding into conversations about politics, technology, entertainment, and other trending topics. Additionally, automated accounts can generate repetitive content and skew engagement metrics, complicating the task of determining the level of genuine user attention an issue receives. 

That distinction is particularly important in the ongoing debate about physical PlayStation games. Although the report suggests that some of the online activity may be artificial, the backlash itself has several reasons to exist. Players have expressed concerns that they will lose access to their existing disk collections, that future physical games could be expensive, and that Sony could move to a digital-only approach with its next console.

There have been questions over how the report’s findings should be read in terms of the numbers. 28% of the discussion being attributed to bots is a high number but also means that the majority of the activity was not flagged as coming from those accounts. More importantly, the percentage alone doesn't tell us how many real gamers are against the potential removal of physical games or how strongly they feel about it.

These bot accounts generally attempt to get engagement by posting things that are interesting to current audiences. In this case, messages that promote physical games could elicit responses because they echo concerns that real PlayStation players already have. There are automated accounts there, so some posts get seen, but it does not mean the problem is there just because of the automated accounts.

Champagne said the discussion should not be dismissed because some of the activity might be artificial. He believes Sony should look at what its customers are complaining about, regardless of how many people are doing it online. A smaller, dedicated group of gamers can still be a giant audience, especially if those customers have been around for years, buying the company’s games.

The talk also comes as Sony reportedly surveys PlayStation users and game developers about their attitudes toward physical releases.

The reports say the surveys ask participants to rate the importance of physical games, suggesting Sony is gathering feedback on consumer preference. While the existence of such surveys doesn’t guaranty the company plans to ditch physical media, it does mean that the subject is under consideration.

Developers have also explained why physical releases remain important regardless of digital distribution, which makes up most of the sales. While big franchises may make most of their money through digital storefronts, smaller studios and publishers often rely on limited physical editions to appeal to collectors and dedicated fans. 

Physical copies also give gamers a tangible product to collect, lend where allowed, or resell under the rules. Depending on the game and the content on the disk, they can offer a degree of access that isn’t completely tied to a digital storefront or online account. But some physical releases still need downloads, online authentication, or extra content to function properly, meaning that disks don’t guarantee total independence from digital services.

The debate over physical media has also cited recent game sales figures. According to figures referenced in the discussion, approximately 85% of Resident Evil Requiem sales were digital. Although that would leave physical copies with a relatively small share of total sales, the remaining portion could still amount to nearly two million copies.

Losing those sales would represent a considerable amount of potential revenue for a publisher. Even if digital purchases account for the overwhelming majority of transactions, physical customers can still contribute significantly to a game's commercial performance. Publishers must also consider whether removing physical editions could discourage some dedicated customers from purchasing future releases altogether.

The same argument has been raised around Marvel's Wolverine, a major PlayStation release that reportedly recorded a substantial physical sales share in the United Kingdom during its first week. Figures discussed in the video placed physical purchases at approximately 35% of its opening-week sales. 

These numbers don’t prove that physical releases will continue to be commercially viable for every game or market.

The importance of digital sales has increased, and publishers must balance the cost of manufacturing, distribution, and retail against the revenue from disc-based editions. However, the ongoing demand for physical copies means that abandoning the format would mean depriving some customers of a purchasing option they value.

Much of the controversy around the concern is about Sony's next console. Reports and leaks have indicated that the PlayStation 6 might follow the same trajectory as the PlayStation 5 Slim and PlayStation 5 Pro, where a disk drive is optional rather than standard equipment on all models. 

A disk drive could be an optional feature that balances players who prefer digital purchases with those who want to keep buying physical games. This would allow customers who didn’t need a disk drive to potentially purchase a cheaper console, while collectors would be willing to pay a premium for the hardware required to play their existing disks.

The bigger question is whether future PlayStation hardware will provide a reliable way to access existing physical libraries if disc drives become less common. Players who have accumulated games across the PS4 and PS5 generations may be reluctant to invest in another console without clear information about backward compatibility and long-term access.

There is also uncertainty about whether Sony could introduce a system that converts existing physical purchases into digital licenses. Xbox has offered certain mechanisms for accessing games across supported platforms and services, but any equivalent PlayStation system would require Sony to establish clear rules for verifying ownership and preventing duplicate or unauthorized claims. No such system has been confirmed for the PS6.

Sony's digital infrastructure and customer support have also become part of the conversation. Players who experience account theft or problems accessing digital purchases can face difficulties resolving their issues, making some consumers wary of depending entirely on online accounts. 

One potential alternative would be to follow the approach used by some physical movie releases.

For collectors, there are premium editions that include disks, special packaging, artwork, and digital codes for easy streaming. Game publishers might do the same thing, selling physical copies for more and offering the standard digital version to customers who want convenience.

Publishers could also come up with other ways to make physical releases more financially appealing by including special editions with steelbooks, posters, artbooks, and other collectables. But games have challenges that movies don't always have. Bigger storage, constant updates, and online services. 

The debate also highlights larger concerns about the direction the gaming industry is heading. More and more players have been exposed to games that require online connectivity, downloadable updates, and digital services. While these features may enhance convenience and facilitate ongoing development, they also pose questions regarding long-term ownership and the discontinuation of services.

The reported bot activity is for now only one part of the puzzle.

Automated accounts can skew conversations online, but even if they exist, that doesn’t mean the larger backlash is fake or inconsequential. Sony has not confirmed that physical PlayStation games will go away after 2028, and it’s unclear whether the PS6 will have a disk drive.

Ultimately, it’ll be up to the company to decide if the financial gains of digital distribution are worth the loss of customers who still value physical releases. While the report may change some people’s perception of the conversations surrounding X, it doesn’t change the commercial importance of physical sales or the concerns of gamers who would prefer to keep their current collection intact.