I rarely partake in a rant, but Sony’s recent announcements are the latest in a spate of disgraceful decisions that push us towards continued enshittification of the gaming ecosystem. In the last week, Sony has announced:
- The PS3 and PSVita stores will close between August 2026 and July 2027
- Your downloads of games you have purchased will remain downloadable “for the foreseeable future”.
- From 2028, physical PlayStation discs will cease production, forcing all games to be digital only
- From September, 551 Studio Canal videos will be removed from everyone’s account due to licence expirations, despite selling the movies using a “buy” button, not a “rent ” button
From today, I will refuse to buy another PlayStation product. They have made it very clear that customer loyalty is cheap. However, it’s not just Sony; everyone’s at it. I’ve recorded a somewhat rambling rant that explores how all of these short-term decisions and anti-consumer approaches only damage the gaming ecosystem in the long term.
To combat these kinds of policies and corporate decisions, gamers must:
- Vote with your wallets
- Support DRM-free options and developers who package their products for long-term ownership and stability
- Stop trading perceived convenience for a reduction of consumer rights, as both convenience and pro-consumer actions can coexist
What else can we do collectively?
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