Sony has drawn fresh criticism by promoting a new vinyl record player on social media, just weeks after confirming it will stop releasing physical PlayStation games after 2027. The company's official Sony Electronics X account posted an advertisement for the LX3 Turntable over the weekend, extolling the virtues of owning music on vinyl discs.
Vinyl Promotion Ignites Anger
The post reads: 'Rediscover the warmth, detail, and ritual of vinyl with the LX3 Turntable. Drop the needle, press play, and enjoy music the way it was meant to be heard.' Fans were quick to call out what they see as hypocrisy, given Sony's plan to abandon physical game discs.
DoesItPlay1, an account that recently called for a weeklong PlayStation boycott, replied: 'Somebody tell the guys at PlayStation. Apparently, physical media is worth supporting even if it is a small niche. PS games are much bigger than vinyl. Yet for some reason, they feel the need to kill gaming culture for profit. Shame!' Another user, MiXMistery, added: 'You see how vinyl has made a comeback and is selling like hotcakes, and you go and wipe out the physical format of video games. Hypocrites!'
Different Teams, Same Company
While the Sony Electronics and PlayStation accounts are managed by separate teams, the timing highlights a perceived double standard. Sony has reportedly told employees not to discuss its physical game plans publicly, but the vinyl promotion gives detractors fresh ammunition. The post has attracted far more engagement than usual for the Sony Electronics account, which typically sees only a handful of replies — most of them complaints about physical games.
Financial Comparison Adds Fuel
For context, vinyl sales in the US generated $1 billion (about £751 million) in 2025, according to Variety. That figure pales next to the $60.7 billion (about £45.6 billion) spent on video games, as reported by the ESA. Fans argue that if Sony can support a smaller physical medium like vinyl, there's no reason to abandon the much larger physical games market.
PSN Outage Adds to Tensions
The backlash comes shortly after a PlayStation Network outage last Friday that left users unable to access some games. Although the issue was resolved later that day, Sony never issued an explanation or apology. The company's silence on matters beyond game advertising is becoming increasingly noticeable, though it is unlikely to change course without financial repercussions.
