Get ready for a potential clash of titans! Sony is gearing up to showcase new gameplay from the highly anticipated action game, Phantom Blade Zero , during a dedicated State of Play event. However, if the initial reaction to the announcement is anything to go by, the chat section might be more chaotic than usual, dominated by the ongoing controversy surrounding Sony’s decision to discontinue PlayStation disc production.
The Show Must Go On (Despite the Backlash)
Scheduled for August 17th at 7pm PT / 10pm ET / August 18th at 3am UK time, the State of Play will be broadcast across Sony’s social media channels and on the PlayStation Blog . Unfortunately, it seems that every major PlayStation announcement these days is overshadowed by the heated debate surrounding the end of physical discs in 2028.
“Are you going to censor comments about your attack on physical media and gaming culture in the chat again this time?” questioned a user on X / Twitter (formerly known as Twitter), highlighting the widespread frustration online. “People have a right to be upset. Literally everyone will be off worse in the long run. Yet you are ignoring your fans. #PhysicalGamesMatter.”
The potential for the disc drama to completely overshadow the actual gameplay reveal of Phantom Blade Zero is very real, despite the game and its developer, S-Game, having absolutely nothing to do with Sony’s corporate decisions. Some are even speculating that Sony might disable the chat function altogether, given the expectation of a barrage of angry comments.
Even on the PlayStation Blog itself, the comments section is far from positive for Sony. “I think for the first time I’m skipping a State of Play,” one user commented. “I’ll still support the studio buying the physical version.” Another lamented, “Been wanting to play this for years, but if there’s no physical I’m probably going to pass, sadly.” And another simply demanded, “There better be a DISC!”
Gamers have been relentless in their calls for Sony to reverse its decision, launching online petitions and flooding PlayStation’s social media with messages expressing concern about video game preservation and ownership. Physical media advocates have even called for a week-long boycott of PlayStation in August to send a clear message to Sony that the end of disc production is unacceptable. The Digital Entertainment and Retail Association (ERA) in the UK has also weighed in, calling Sony’s decision “a triumph of corporate convenience over consumer choice.”
Last month, Sony finally attempted to address the controversy by stating that the move is not currently impacting its business and doesn’t foresee any negative impact in the future. Executives have remained firm on their decision, acknowledging “strong views” from the gaming community while insisting there will be no U-turn.
Sony initially justified the decision by claiming it was simply following consumer trends. “In response to shifting trends in consumer preference, new games will be released on PlayStation Store and at retailers in digital formats only,” explained Sid Shuman, Senior Director, Sony Interactive Entertainment Content Communications, in a post on the PlayStation Blog .
Data supports this trend. Sony’s latest financial reports show that 82% of full game software sales across PS4 and PS5 are digital downloads. Industry analyst Mat Piscatella recently reported that only seven PlayStation games have sold over 100,000 physical units in the U.S. this year , with just two exceeding 10,000 units during the week ending July 11th.
Even Rockstar Games boss Strauss Zelnick recently defended the decision to release GTA 6 without a physical disc, arguing that discs “don’t really make sense for the consumer” when it comes to major releases.
While companies sometimes reverse controversial decisions in response to public outcry, analysts at IGN believe that Sony is unlikely to change its stance. For Sony, going all-digital increases profits from each sale, especially crucial as console sales are expected to decline due to rising costs. With physical copies, Sony keeps roughly 65% of the revenue, with 30% going to retailers and another 5% on manufacturing. Licensing fees for third-party games like Call of Duty are around 15%. However, with digital downloads, Sony keeps 100% of the revenue for first-party games sold through the PlayStation Store and a 30% cut (around $21) for third-party games.
As for Phantom Blade Zero , the State of Play promises to showcase nearly 20 minutes of new gameplay. S-Game founder and CEO Soulframe Liang confirmed that martial arts movie star Donnie Yen is in the game (as seen in the trailer above) and has served as a creative consultant since 2023, helping with combat design “to help deliver an authentic kung fu experience.” He voices Mó Yuan, the protagonist’s father. Liang teased, “What you saw in the preorder trailer is only the beginning… The Phantom Blade Zero gameplay deep dive State of Play will introduce never-before-seen characters central to our story while showing just how expressive players can be with their individual builds.”
Adding fuel to the fire, there’s a strong rumor that a Phantom Blade Zero demo will shadow-drop alongside the State of Play . Eagle-eyed fans spotted a demo page for the game on the PlayStation Store before it was taken down.
Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at [email protected] or confidentially at [email protected].
Source: IGN Gaming
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