Sony surveys developers and players as disc-ending backlash mounts

Sony is facing growing pressure over its decision to end PlayStation disc production, and two separate surveys — one sent to developers, one open to the public — suggest the company is at least listening. Whether that translates into any policy change is still an open question.

The developer survey was reported by YouTube tech channel Moore's Law is Dead, whose host Tom described it as "one of the biggest" surveys PlayStation has ever sent to developers. One question reportedly asked, in indirect terms, whether there are any issues with how Sony sells games physically — a clear nod to the disc discontinuation plan. Separately, PlayStation published a public survey on September 25 covering general PS5 satisfaction, including games, UI, and the DualSense. None of the questions directly address physical media, but players are using the open-text fields to voice their frustration anyway. Nippon Ichi Software CEO Kenzo Saruhashi, speaking at PAX West, added another data point: he confirmed his company is in active discussions with Sony about the disc decision, and said he believes Sony "is hearing a lot of the feedback from customers." NIS America relies heavily on physical limited editions — elaborate boxed sets with discs and collectibles — so the stakes are real for them. Saruhashi floated "code in a box" as one possible outcome but stopped short of calling it inevitable, suggesting the situation is still fluid.

Sony announced in July that it would begin winding down disc production from January 2028, framing it as a response to shifting consumer preferences toward digital. The plan sparked immediate backlash across the gaming community, and the fallout has been wide: Hideo Kojima publicly criticized the move, Digital Foundry's John Linneman reported negative industry sentiment at Gamescom, and Sony reportedly tightened internal social media guidelines for staff in response to the noise. Sony did clarify one point of confusion — disc output will drop by 10 percent in 2028, not to 10 percent, meaning physical releases aren't disappearing overnight. Still, Sony CFO Lin Tao said in a July investor Q&A that the company would "cautiously move this forward" despite acknowledging the public's "strong views."

Community reaction to the public survey has been pointed but sardonic — one player wrote that to access their opinion, Sony should "insert the 'my opinion' disc into the disc drive." The more realistic outcome, based on what Saruhashi hinted at, may not be a full reversal but a carve-out allowing certain publishers to continue producing limited physical runs. With the discontinuation not starting until early 2028, there's still time for Sony to adjust course — but so far, no official change of direction has been announced.