Sony announces aggressive new measures amid an ongoing PS5 protest
Ever since Sony announced the upcoming end of physical PlayStation 5 discs in July 2026, incensed fans have taken every opportunity to protest it. Sony can’t promote anything related to the PS5 without an overwhelming comments section full of dissidents — even if the game in question will be available on discs. The anti-campaign has gone on for long enough that the console-makers are now trying an aggressive new tactic that could silence their most ardent critics.
Breaking down Sony’s new policy
The new policy is being billed as a harassment policy, which gives it a reasonable veneer. Many of the examples cited by Sony sound like actions that the company should try to fight against, like abusive language, threats, slander, intimidation, discrimination, sexual conduct, attacks against employees, and visiting offices without permission. What’s caught people’s eye here is the wording of some of the behaviors that Sony will soon punish. The list of prohibited behaviors includes “persistent and repeated, or prolonged, demands,” “requests unrelated to products or services,” and “demands against employees.” The blog post detailing the new policy also vaguely notes that its list of forbidden behaviors is not exhaustive.
The list happens to describe many of the ways that vocal critics are expressing their concerns about Sony’s decision to cease PS5 disc production in 2028. Sony says that anyone found in violations of these policies could see restriction or suspension of customer service. Breaking policy could lead Sony to cooperate with law enforcement and pursue legal measures, including criminal proceedings.
Sony did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It remains to be seen how, exactly, these policies will be enforced — and how much the company might target some of its most persistent critics. With the recent news that Sony is defending a class action lawsuit by arguing that consumers don’t truly own digital games — the only option that will be left once physical games go away — it seems unlikely that angry fans will back down anytime soon.