Sony has reportedly implemented its most stringent social media guidelines ever for current and former employees across its first-party studios in response to the significant backlash following its announcement to discontinue physical media on PlayStation consoles. This information comes from Alanah Pearce, who previously worked as a writer at Sony Santa Monica Studio, the developer behind God of War.
Pearce stated in a video that the public outcry and any subsequent petitions are unlikely to alter Sony's decision to transition to digital-only game releases starting January 2028. She explained that the unprecedented social media restrictions indicate Sony anticipated a major public relations issue with this move. "They would only have done this if they knew it was going to be an enormous PR issue. This is no surprise to them," Pearce said, referencing conversations with individuals working within PlayStation's first-party studios.
Sony's announcement, made on July 1st, confirmed that all new game releases on PlayStation consoles from January 2028 onward will be digital-only. This policy will affect all games released on the platform, including titles from third-party publishers, and will even extend to physical retail options like code-in-the-box products.
"As consumer preferences and the broader entertainment industry continue to shift away from physical discs to digital, physical game disc production for all new games releasing on PlayStation consoles will be discontinued starting January 2028," Sony stated in its official announcement. Pearce noted that while Sony periodically issues guidelines to employees regarding public communications, the restrictions surrounding the physical media decision are notably stricter than anything she or her contacts have experienced previously. She also mentioned having been subject to similar, though less severe, guidelines during her own tenure at Sony Santa Monica, including during the announcement of God of War: Laufey.