PlayStation has rolled out a new public survey open to any adult member of the public, and rather than simply collecting feedback, players are turning the exercise into a coordinated protest against Sony’s plans to end the production of physical game discs. Published on September 25, the questionnaire arrived just days after reports emerged that the company had circulated a separate, developer-focused survey around studios — and fans have seized the opportunity to embed their objections directly into their responses.
The open survey probes customer satisfaction across a range of PlayStation 5 topics, including PlayStation exclusive titles, the user interface, game performance, online multiplayer, the DualSense controller, and the console’s overall library. Respondents are also asked to list every console they currently own — including non-Sony hardware such as the Nintendo Switch, gaming PCs, and VR headsets — and are given prompts to elaborate on their choices. While none of the built-in questions touch on physical media directly, the open-ended format leaves plenty of room for players to raise the subject on their own initiative.
A Disc Drive in Every Response
For many in the community, the survey’s flexibility is precisely what makes it a useful vehicle for dissent. Fans have flooded their answers with pointed commentary about Sony’s decision to stop manufacturing game discs, a move that is slated to take effect in January 2028 and has drawn sharp criticism from nearly every corner of the gaming world since it was first announced in July.
“I don’t think they are ready for the responses, but this survey is a sign that they are at the very least aware that their public image has taken a helluva kicking lately,” one user wrote on Twitter/X. Another simply filled out the form and added, “Respectfully told them they’ve been the worst all year lol.”
The reactions have grown playful as well as pointed. One player attached a screenshot of their written response, in which they quipped: “To access this information, please insert the ‘my opinion’ disc into the disc drive, plus download the needed information from the internet.”
Two Surveys, One Message
The public questionnaire comes on the heels of a separate survey that PlayStation reportedly sent to game developers just days earlier. Speaking on the Broken Silicon Podcast, host Tom described it as “one of the biggest” surveys developers had ever received from the company, and he too questioned whether it signaled some hesitation on Sony’s part regarding its choice to stop making game discs.
However, it is worth noting that Sony’s leadership has not wavered on the issue. Chief financial officer Lin Tao told an investor Q&A in July that the company intends to “cautiously move this forward,” even while acknowledging the public’s “strong views” on the matter.
Looking Ahead
As the January 2028 deadline approaches, the gap between Sony’s stated plans and the community’s reaction appears to be widening. Whether the newly opened survey represents a genuine shift in Sony’s thinking or simply a convenient channel for players to air their grievances remains to be seen. For now, the evidence suggests that the company’s public image has taken a significant hit, and that the physical disc debate is far from over.
Virginia (she/her) is IGN’s News Editor. With ten years of experience reporting on games and entertainment, she’s got a storied background in the fighting game community, influencer news, and viral online trends. Find her on Twitter at @TheeMissGlaze.
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