Playstation Users Organize August Blackout Against Disc-less PS5

WHO:

Kotaku - The game preservation and consumer rights group DoesItPlay is organizing the protest.

Push Square - The protest is supported by engaged fans of PlayStation.

WHAT:

Kotaku - The "Don't Kill The Disc" Petition has increased from approximately 345,000 signatures to over 345,000 signatures as of July 27, 2026.

Polygon.com - The "Don't Kill The Disc" Petition has continued to gain momentum, having shot up from roughly 120,000 signatures on July 6 to just over 345,000 signatures on July 27.

Kotaku - The "Don't Kill The Disc" Petition has increased from approximately 345,000 signatures to over 345,000 signatures as of July 27, 2026.

Kotaku - The protest was announced by DoesItPlay on July 26, 2026.

Push Square - The protest is described as an escalation from merely leaving angry comments to a coordinated effort to impact Sony's player statistics.

Kotaku - The "Don't Kill The Disc" Petition has increased from approximately 345,000 signatures to over 345,000 signatures as of July 27, 2026.

Polygon.com - A huge PS5 game sale is currently underway at major retailers, offering discounts on physical games, including God of War Ragnarök at 57% off for $29.99 and Death Stranding 2 at 43% off for $39.98.

Kotaku - The "Don't Kill The Disc" Petition has increased from approximately 120,000 signatures to over 345,000 signatures.

Push Square - The statement from DoesItPlay includes that bringing back physical games would only be "meeting players halfway."

Kotaku - An “economic and gameplay blackout” is planned, urging PlayStation owners to turn off their consoles and log out of all PlayStation services for seven consecutive days.

Kotaku - The protest is called “PSBlackout” and is scheduled from August 23 to August 30.

Push Square - The blackout aims to impact Sony's active player statistics by having participants unplug their consoles.

WHERE:

Kotaku - The protest is organized for PlayStation-related platforms globally.

WHEN:

Polygon.com - The release date for God of War Laufey is set for February 16, 2027, and Spider-Man: Brand New Day is scheduled for July 31, 2026.

Kotaku - The blackout is scheduled to take place from August 23 at 7:00 PM local time to August 30 at 7:00 PM local time.

WHY:

Push Square - The statement from DoesItPlay expresses that Sony has grown “further apart from its fan base” and cites issues such as closing beloved studios and abandoning franchises.

Kotaku - DoesItPlay's statement criticizes Sony for pursuing a misguided live-service strategy and for being out of touch with the franchises players want to see return.

Kotaku - The statement from DoesItPlay criticizes Sony for closing beloved studios like Bluepoint and Japan Studio, and for abandoning franchises such as Sly Cooper and Resistance.

Kotaku - The protest is in response to Sony's announcement to end disc production for all new PlayStation games starting in 2028, which fans view as a disconnection from the community.

Push Square - The statement from DoesItPlay expresses that Sony has grown “further apart from its fan base” and cites issues such as closing beloved studios and abandoning franchises.

HOW:

Kotaku - The protest is described as an escalation from merely leaving angry comments to a coordinated effort to impact Sony's player statistics.

Kotaku - Participants are encouraged to refrain from logging into, playing, or purchasing any content on PlayStation-related platforms during the blackout week.

Kotaku - The protest is described as an escalation from merely leaving angry comments to a coordinated effort to impact Sony's player statistics.

Kotaku - Participants are encouraged to refrain from logging into, playing, or purchasing any content on PlayStation-related platforms during the blackout week.

(UPDATED July 28, 2026 13:29 UTC)

The "Don't Kill The Disc" Petition has gained significant traction, skyrocketing from around 120,000 signatures earlier this month to over 345,000 as of July 27, 2026. This surge reflects growing discontent among fans, with a statement from DoesItPlay highlighting that Sony has become increasingly disconnected from its audience by closing beloved studios and abandoning popular franchises. The protest has evolved from simply leaving angry comments to a more organized effort aimed at influencing Sony's player statistics.

(UPDATED July 28, 2026 05:54 UTC)

The "Don't Kill The Disc" Petition has surged to over 345,000 signatures following its announcement by DoesItPlay on July 26, 2026. This protest marks a shift from simply voicing frustration online to a more organized effort aimed at influencing Sony's player statistics, as critics accuse the company of pursuing a misguided live-service strategy. Participants are being urged to avoid logging into, playing, or purchasing any content on PlayStation-related platforms during the upcoming blackout week.

(UPDATED July 27, 2026 22:22 UTC)

The "Don't Kill The Disc" Petition has surged to over 345,000 signatures, reflecting growing support for physical game media. Meanwhile, major retailers are hosting a significant PS5 game sale, featuring discounts like 57% off God of War Ragnarök for just $29.99 and 43% off Death Stranding 2 at $39.98. Looking ahead, fans can anticipate the release of God of War Laufey on February 16, 2027, and Spider-Man: Brand New Day on July 31, 2026.

(UPDATED July 27, 2026 14:55 UTC)

The "Don't Kill The Disc" Petition has surged from around 120,000 signatures to over 345,000, reflecting growing frustration among gamers. DoesItPlay has criticized Sony for shutting down beloved studios like Bluepoint and Japan Studio, as well as for neglecting popular franchises such as Sly Cooper and Resistance, stating that bringing back physical games would only be "meeting players halfway." This protest marks a shift from simply leaving angry comments to a more organized effort aimed at influencing Sony's player statistics.

(UPDATED July 27, 2026 13:57 UTC)

A global protest called "PSBlackout" is set to take place from August 23 at 7:00 PM local time to August 30 at 7:00 PM local time, organized by the game preservation and consumer rights group DoesItPlay, with support from engaged PlayStation fans. During this week, participants are urged to turn off their consoles and log out of all PlayStation services to impact Sony's active player statistics, as a response to the company's announcement to end disc production for all new PlayStation games starting in 2028. The protest aims to highlight concerns that Sony has become increasingly disconnected from its community, citing issues like the closure of beloved studios and the abandonment of popular franchises.