{"id":2100718,"date":"2026-08-19T09:38:33","date_gmt":"2026-08-19T06:38:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2100718"},"modified":"2026-08-19T09:38:33","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T06:38:33","slug":"playstations-phantom-blade-zero-showcase-disrupted-by-no-disc-no-buy-messages","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2100718","title":{"rendered":"PlayStation\u2019s \u2018Phantom Blade Zero\u2019 showcase disrupted by \u2018no disc no buy\u2019 messages"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PlayStation-5-.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"template-id-2749694\" class=\"post-2749694 tdb_templates type-tdb_templates status-publish post\">\n<div id=\"tdi_65\" class=\"tdc-zone\">\n<div class=\"tdc_zone tdi_66  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div id=\"tdi_67\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_68  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_70  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_breadcrumbs tdi_71 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-breadcrumbs \" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_71\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span>News<\/span><i class=\"tdb-bread-sep td-icon-right\"><\/i><span>Gaming News<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_title tdi_72 tdb-single-title td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_72\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">PlayStation\u2019s \u2018Phantom Blade Zero\u2019 showcase disrupted by \u2018no disc no buy\u2019 messages<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_subtitle tdi_73 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_73\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>Gamers really aren&#8217;t happy about PlayStation&#8217;s decision to phase out physical discs <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_author tdi_75 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_75\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-author-name-wrap\"><span class=\"tdb-author-by\">By<\/span> Nick Levine<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_date tdi_76 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_76\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><time class=\"entry-date updated td-module-date\" datetime=\"2026-08-19T10:38:33+01:00\">19th August 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .\/block --><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_77\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_78  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_80  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span8\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_featured_image tdi_81 tdb-content-horiz-left td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_81\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<figure>\n                                    <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"696\" height=\"442\" class=\"entry-thumb\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PlayStation-5--696x442.jpg\" alt=\"PlayStation 5 Plus\" title=\"PlayStation 5\"><figcaption class=\"tdb-caption-text\">The PlayStation 5. CREDIT: Sony<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_row_inner tdi_83 article-content-row vc_row vc_inner wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column_inner tdi_85  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-inner-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>Disgruntled gamers used PlayStation\u2018s\u00a0<em>Phantom Blade Zero<\/em> showcase yesterday (August 18) as an opportunity to criticise the brand\u2019s unpopular plan to cease producing physical discs.<\/p>\n<p>As @thegamersjoint documented on X, the showcase\u2019s live chat was inundated with messages saying \u201cdiscs forever\u201d, \u201cwe want our discs\u201d and, most frequently of all, \u201cno disc no buy\u201d.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span>  <\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-article-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Another irate gamer wrote pointedly: \u201cBring back the discs you basterds (sic).\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">playstation have the chat enabled for the phantom blade zero live showcase and oh my fucking god bro, they actually don&#8217;t care \ud83d\udc80\ud83d\udc80\ud83d\udc80 pic.twitter.com\/NeISEoLHZE<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Cynical (@thegamersjoint) August 18, 2026<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>In July of this year, PlayStation announced that it will stop producing physical games from January 2028. \u201cThis is a natural direction for Sony Interactive Entertainment to adapt to consumer trends as the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis transition will enable us to align more closely with how most of our community prefers to access and play games today,\u201d they explained in a short blog post. One report has claimed that just seven PlayStation games have sold more than 100,000 physical copies in the US this year.<\/p>\n<p>However, the announcement has received a wide-spread backlash ever since. Hideo Kojima called it a \u201cscary\u201d and \u201cfrightening\u201d decision, especially after Sony deleted hundreds of movies from PlayStation 5 libraries over an expired rights license. One petition asking Sony not to \u201ckill the disc\u201d has more than 368,00 signatures and other fans are organising a week-long economic boycott of Playstation to protest the decision.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad1 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\"><\/span><\/p>\n<h5 class=\"taboola-mid-article-title\">Recommended<\/h5>\n<div id=\"taboola-mid-article\">\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3829122\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3829122\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3829122\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/PlayStation-showcase.jpg\" alt=\"Gamers try out &apos;Astro Bot&apos; at the Sony PlayStation 5 exhibition\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1270\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3829122\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Gamers try out \u2018Astro Bot\u2019 at the Sony PlayStation 5 exhibition in 2024. CREDIT: CFOTO\/Future Publishing via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The boycott\u2019s organisers state: \u201cWe are calling on PlayStation players to participate in an economic blackout from August 23 at 7pm local time, through to August 30. Players can participate by turning off their consoles or logging out for seven days. We feel this period gives publishers and developers minimal impact while giving players a voice.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Despite the widespread and ongoing backlash to its phasing out of physical games, PlayStation has doubled down on the controversial decision.<\/p>\n<p>Sony\u2019s chief financial officer Lin Tao said at the end of July: \u201cThere are various reasons we made this decision. The biggest being that the digitalisation of content overall has been progressing. We put in a lot of thought. We cautiously considered [scrapping physical discs] and we have received various opinions [about it]. People have strong views. Games are loved by many people and so we understand those emotions,[but] we\u2019re going to cautiously move forward.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_tags tdi_87 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_87\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<ul class=\"tdb-tags\">\n<li><span>Related Topics<\/span><\/li>\n<li>PlayStation 5<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper td_block_wrap vc_raw_html tdi_89 \">\n<div class=\"td-fix-index\">\n<h3>You May Also Like<\/h3>\n<div id=\"taboola-below-article\">\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_91  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span4 td-is-sticky\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td-a-rec td-a-rec-id-sidebar  tdi_92 td_block_template_2\">\n<p><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-sidebar-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap td_flex_block_1 tdi_93 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdc-no-posts td_flex_block\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_93\">\n<div class=\"td-block-title-wrap\">\n<h4 class=\"td-block-title\"><span class=\"td-pulldown-size\">TRENDING<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_93\" class=\"td_block_inner td-mc1-wrap\">\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/grimes-hatsune-miku-credit-dwangonebula-17-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/grimes-hatsune-miku-credit-dwangonebula-17-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Grimes\u2019 Hatsune Miku collaboration is filled with love: \u201cI feel really in awe of her, but also protective of her\u201d<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Fontaines-D.C.-Credit-Elizaveta-Porodina_edit-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Fontaines-D.C.-Credit-Elizaveta-Porodina_edit-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Fontaines D.C.\u2018s \u2018Marianne\u2019 sets a bold new cinematic scene in their search for escape<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Hayden_Panettiere_Heroes-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Hayden_Panettiere_Heroes-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Hayden Panettiere\u2019s \u2018Heroes\u2019 character Claire Bennet is an underrated sci-fi icon<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/NME-HERO-AKRIILA-CREDIT-LO-HARLEY@2560x1707-400x267.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/NME-HERO-AKRIILA-CREDIT-LO-HARLEY@2560x1707-800x533.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Akriila throws open the doors to her gloriously messy musical multiverse<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Diablo-4-Lord-Of-Hatred-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Diablo-4-Lord-Of-Hatred-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">How \u2018Diablo\u2019 continues to provide the definitive dark-fantasy game soundtrack<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td-a-rec td-a-rec-id-custom_ad_1  tdi_94 td_block_template_2\">\n<p><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-sidebar-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_95\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_96  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_98  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"vc_row_inner tdi_100  vc_row vc_inner wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column_inner tdi_102  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-inner-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper td_block_wrap vc_raw_html tdi_104 \">\n<div class=\"td-fix-index\">\n<h3>More Stories<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap td_flex_block_1 tdi_105 td-pb-border-top td_module_flex_1--card td_module_flex_1--card--highlight td_block_template_2 tdc-no-posts td_flex_block\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_105\">\n<div class=\"td-block-title-wrap\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_105\" class=\"td_block_inner td-mc1-wrap\">\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/marvel-tokon-fighting-souls-phoenix-cyclops-release-date-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/marvel-tokon-fighting-souls-phoenix-cyclops-release-date-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Gaming Guides<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">\u2018Marvel Tokon Fighting Souls\u2019 Phoenix Cyclops release date, gameplay, more<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ps-plus-september-2026-games-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ps-plus-september-2026-games-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Gaming Guides<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">PS Plus September 2026 games \u2013 what to expect on PS5 and PS4<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PlayStation-5--400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PlayStation-5--800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Gaming News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">PlayStation moving forward with end of physical discs despite backlash<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Hardware_PlayStation-5-Pro_DualSense-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Hardware_PlayStation-5-Pro_DualSense-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Gaming News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">PlayStation critics call for boycott over decision to end physical discs<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Hardware_PlayStation-5-Pro_DualSense-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Hardware_PlayStation-5-Pro_DualSense-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Gaming News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">CEX and the second-hand games market is \u201cdoomed\u201d if Sony kills PlayStation discs, says report<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/marvel-tokon-fighting-souls-open-beta-dates-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/marvel-tokon-fighting-souls-open-beta-dates-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Gaming Guides<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">\u2018Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls\u2019 beta dates, roster, how to sign up<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>                    <span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><\/span><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span>                <\/article>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>Disgruntled gamers used PlayStation\u2018s\u00a0<em>Phantom Blade Zero<\/em> showcase yesterday (August 18) as an opportunity to criticise the brand\u2019s unpopular plan to cease producing physical discs.<\/p>\n<p>As @thegamersjoint documented on X, the showcase\u2019s live chat was inundated with messages saying \u201cdiscs forever\u201d, \u201cwe want our discs\u201d and, most frequently of all, \u201cno disc no buy\u201d.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span>  <\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-article-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Another irate gamer wrote pointedly: \u201cBring back the discs you basterds (sic).\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">playstation have the chat enabled for the phantom blade zero live showcase and oh my fucking god bro, they actually don&#8217;t care \ud83d\udc80\ud83d\udc80\ud83d\udc80 pic.twitter.com\/NeISEoLHZE<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Cynical (@thegamersjoint) August 18, 2026<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>In July of this year, PlayStation announced that it will stop producing physical games from January 2028. \u201cThis is a natural direction for Sony Interactive Entertainment to adapt to consumer trends as the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis transition will enable us to align more closely with how most of our community prefers to access and play games today,\u201d they explained in a short blog post. One report has claimed that just seven PlayStation games have sold more than 100,000 physical copies in the US this year.<\/p>\n<p>However, the announcement has received a wide-spread backlash ever since. Hideo Kojima called it a \u201cscary\u201d and \u201cfrightening\u201d decision, especially after Sony deleted hundreds of movies from PlayStation 5 libraries over an expired rights license. One petition asking Sony not to \u201ckill the disc\u201d has more than 368,00 signatures and other fans are organising a week-long economic boycott of Playstation to protest the decision.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad1 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\"><\/span><\/p>\n<h5 class=\"taboola-mid-article-title\">Recommended<\/h5>\n<div id=\"taboola-mid-article\">\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3829122\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3829122\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3829122\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/PlayStation-showcase.jpg\" alt=\"Gamers try out &apos;Astro Bot&apos; at the Sony PlayStation 5 exhibition\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1270\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3829122\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Gamers try out \u2018Astro Bot\u2019 at the Sony PlayStation 5 exhibition in 2024. CREDIT: CFOTO\/Future Publishing via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The boycott\u2019s organisers state: \u201cWe are calling on PlayStation players to participate in an economic blackout from August 23 at 7pm local time, through to August 30. Players can participate by turning off their consoles or logging out for seven days. We feel this period gives publishers and developers minimal impact while giving players a voice.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Despite the widespread and ongoing backlash to its phasing out of physical games, PlayStation has doubled down on the controversial decision.<\/p>\n<p>Sony\u2019s chief financial officer Lin Tao said at the end of July: \u201cThere are various reasons we made this decision. The biggest being that the digitalisation of content overall has been progressing. We put in a lot of thought. We cautiously considered [scrapping physical discs] and we have received various opinions [about it]. People have strong views. Games are loved by many people and so we understand those emotions,[but] we\u2019re going to cautiously move forward.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/gaming-news\/playstation-phantom-blade-zero-showcase-hijacked-by-physical-discs-campaigners-3963580&#8243;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PlayStation-5-.jpg&#8221;] NewsGaming News PlayStation\u2019s \u2018Phantom Blade Zero\u2019 showcase disrupted by \u2018no disc no buy\u2019 messages Gamers really aren&#8217;t happy about PlayStation&#8217;s decision to phase out physical discs By Nick Levine 19th August 2026 The PlayStation 5. CREDIT: Sony Disgruntled gamers used PlayStation\u2018s\u00a0Phantom Blade Zero showcase yesterday (August 18) as an opportunity to criticise [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,78],"class_list":["post-2100718","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-nme-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2100718","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2100718"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2100718\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2100718"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2100718"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2100718"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}