Ever since Sony announced that it would stop producing physical game discs in 2028, every social post has been flooded with backlash. It's gotten so bad that developers are publicly voicing their frustration because their announcements are buried under a thick layer of controversy that is completely out of their control. This is inevitable, and big first-party blockbusters like Marvel's Wolverine are no exception.
After dropping the surprise new trailer last night, we had a lot of comments like “I will buy this physical product”, “I can't wait for my DISC copy to come out”, “This game will fit perfectly into my physical game collection”, “The actual cover art will look so beautiful in person”, “I'm glad I was able to buy this physical product”. There was a flood of parrot-like comments.
Players point out the irony of Wolverine teasing Sony about Wolverine “getting physical” in the new video, as he treasures real-life photos of himself and Jean Grey. @skidman_studio said, “Wolverine being upset about missing real photos is a good choice for a trailer at the moment.” Another said, “The animation is so realistic it almost looks real. I mean, it looks like it actually happened.”
“Remember, everyone, buy in person.”
With lawsuits, politicians proposing investigations, former Sony boss Shawn Layden publicly disagreeing with the move, boycotting PS Plus, and developers perturbed by the constant backlash against trailers and social posts, PlayStation may not back down on its decision as it has already begun refurbishing its facilities and retraining its staff, but it's clear the anger won't subside.
Sony has faced criticism for setting a dangerous precedent for preservation by building online exclusives, blocking access to its games in 62% of countries, shutting down PS3 and Vita stores and leaving pirates and emulation teams to reclaim digital exclusives that would otherwise be lost forever. The Xbox One and Wii U are back, but it seems unlikely that PlayStation will back off on its decision to save face.
Analysts have suggested that Sony knows that the PS6's $1,000 price tag already means it will sell far fewer units, and instead plans to “focus on hardcore gamers who are willing to spend more money.” This mindset means they're willing to cut out disc-only, budget-conscious next-gen customers because they know the PS5 will still be widely used by their existing player base of over 90 million. As the Black Ops port just demonstrated, PS Plus boycotts and online backlash are ultimately the drop in the ocean, but the pressure to ensure game preservation and digital ownership remains.
- released
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September 15, 2026
- ESRB
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Ages 17+ / Blood and gore, drug-related, high-intensity violence, partial nudity, strong language, in-game purchases
- publisher
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sony interactive entertainment
