Sony has announced a dedicated State of Play presentation for the action RPG Phantom Blade Zero, scheduled for August 17 at 7 p.m. PT / 10 p.m. ET (August 18 at 3 a.m. BST). However, the announcement has been met with significant backlash online, with many anticipating the event's chat to be dominated by criticism of Sony's decision to end PlayStation disc production by 2028.
Social media responses to Sony's announcement are already heavily populated with comments expressing frustration over the phasing out of physical media. Users are urging others to use hashtags like #NODISCNOBUY, with predictions that the discourse surrounding the upcoming State of Play will be overshadowed by this ongoing controversy. The X (formerly Twitter) account Does it play?, a prominent voice in the backlash, has questioned whether Sony will censor comments about the move away from physical media during the stream, asserting that fans have a right to express their concerns about the long-term impact on gaming preservation and ownership.
Phantom Blade Zero and its developer, S-Game, risk becoming collateral damage in this debate, with potential viewers concerned that the game's presentation will be lost amidst the outcry. Comments on the PlayStation Blog also reflect this sentiment, with some users stating they will skip the State of Play or only purchase physical versions of games if available. The #PhysicalGamesMatter movement continues to advocate for Sony to reverse its decision, with petitions and social media campaigns urging a change.
The UK's Digital Entertainment and Retail Association (ERA) has characterized Sony's decision as prioritizing "corporate convenience over consumer choice." In response to the growing concern, Sony has stated that the discontinuation of discs will not impact its business and that it does not anticipate negative future effects. Executives have maintained that the company will not alter its course, while acknowledging the strong opinions within the video game community.
Sony has cited shifting consumer trends and a high digital download ratio as the basis for its decision. Recent financial data indicates an 82% digital download ratio for full game software across PS4 and PS5. Industry analysis further supports this trend, with data showing a low number of physical unit sales for PlayStation games in the U.S. this year. Figures from Circana reveal that only seven PlayStation video games have sold over 100,000 physical units in the U.S. so far in 2024, with just two exceeding 10,000 units in the week ending July 11.
This move towards digital-only releases aligns with sentiments from other industry figures, such as Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick, who has argued that physical discs are becoming less relevant for consumers with major game releases. While instances of companies reversing controversial decisions exist, analysts suggest a U-turn from Sony on this matter is unlikely. The financial implications for Sony are significant; the company retains approximately 65% of revenue from first-party physical game sales after retailer and manufacturing costs, compared to 100% of digital sales through the PlayStation Store. For third-party titles, Sony's cut from digital sales is around 30%, compared to a licensing fee for physical copies.
The State of Play for Phantom Blade Zero is set to feature nearly 20 minutes of new gameplay. S-Game founder and CEO Soulframe Liang confirmed that martial arts star Donnie Yen is involved in the project as a creative consultant, contributing to combat design for an authentic kung fu experience. Yen also provides motion capture and facial performance for the protagonist's father, Mó Yuan.
Liang teased that the gameplay reveal will showcase new characters and the depth of player customization. There are also unconfirmed rumors circulating about a potential demo for Phantom Blade Zero that could be released alongside the State of Play, following a brief appearance of a demo page on the PlayStation Store.