Sony's September 2026 State of Play presentation was significantly overshadowed by a vocal protest from PlayStation fans, who largely bypassed game announcements to demand the continuation of physical disc production for the PlayStation 5 and the development of Destiny 3. The live chat and subsequent YouTube comments were dominated by messages urging Sony to reverse its decision to end physical disc production in 2028 and calls for a new entry in the Destiny series.
This fan outcry appears to be a direct response to Sony's recent announcement of a new harassment policy in Japan, which includes provisions against prolonged or "unrelated" demands directed at the company. Many interpreted this policy, alongside ongoing legal arguments where Sony has contended that digital games cannot be truly owned by players, as an attempt to quell dissent regarding the company's shift away from physical media. The protest, encapsulated by the slogan "NO DISC NO BUY" and the spamming of CD emojis, reflects a broader consumer concern about digital ownership and the perceived erosion of consumer rights.
During the State of Play broadcast, which featured announcements such as the PlayStation Lego set and the release date for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, the YouTube chat was reportedly filled with messages focused on these fan demands rather than the showcased content. While the live chat history is no longer accessible, the sentiment has continued in the video's comments section. "We are protesting our consumer rights!" read one highly upvoted comment. Another user lamented, "'Play has no limits' unless you actually want to own the games you buy... smh."
The perceived lack of compelling exclusive titles, outside of highly anticipated games like Grand Theft Auto 6 and Marvel's Wolverine, may have further fueled the fan discontent, leaving fewer distractions from the ongoing controversies. The general sentiment expressed in comments suggested that the presentation was underwhelming, with some viewers opining that the event "could have been an email." The live chat's engagement, driven by the protest, was even highlighted as the "most entertaining part of the stream" by one viewer.