Sony has sent PlayStation users an email reminding them that digital games are licensed, not sold, just days before a planned protest over the company's decision to end physical disc production.
The email, sent on Saturday and received by others last week, reiterates the PlayStation Terms of Service, which state: 'The software is licensed to you, not sold.' It adds that users are granted 'a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, and personal license to play or use the software for your private, non-commercial use on the system or device it was intended for.'
The message also lists restrictions on digital purchases, including prohibitions on renting, leasing, modifying, or obtaining the software through any means other than Sony Interactive Entertainment's authorised distribution methods. It explains that recipients 'recently accepted the following PlayStation terms' and includes full copies of the terms 'for your convenience and future reference.'
Protest timing questioned
The email arrives as a group of gamers began a 'blackout' protest on Sunday, encouraging players to switch off their PlayStation consoles for a week to disrupt Sony's active player metrics. The protest follows Sony's announcement that it will cease production of PlayStation game discs after 2027, a move that has sparked petitions and anger among fans.
The timing of the email has raised eyebrows, particularly as the PlayStation terms of service were last updated in April 2026, making the August send-out unclear. Some recipients received the same email earlier in the month, adding to the confusion.
Sony's stance on disc production
Sony has acknowledged the backlash, stating that it 'understands those emotions' but plans to 'cautiously' proceed with its disc production phase-out. The decision is widely assumed to be groundwork for the PlayStation 6, which is expected to be all-digital, though this has not been confirmed.
The boycott appears unlikely to reverse Sony's decision, especially given its limited reach, but the key question remains whether anger will grow as the PlayStation 6 approaches.
