Updated
Updated · Notebookcheck.net · Jul 26
Sony Electronics Draws Backlash Over Vinyl Player Ad as PS5 Disc Phaseout Fuels Hypocrisy Claims
Updated
Updated · Notebookcheck.net · Jul 26

Sony Electronics Draws Backlash Over Vinyl Player Ad as PS5 Disc Phaseout Fuels Hypocrisy Claims

3 articles · Updated · Notebookcheck.net · Jul 26

Summary

  • Sony Electronics came under fire after a social media post promoting its PS-LX3BT turntable drew replies calling the ad “ironic” and “tone deaf” amid anger over PlayStation’s move away from physical PS5 discs.
  • Critics argued vinyl is a niche physical format while boxed games remain more mainstream, making Sony’s support for records look inconsistent with its push toward digital game distribution.
  • Sony has said players are choosing digital purchases by a wide margin, but protesters contend demand for discs will persist even as the company repurposes Blu-ray production capacity.
  • Early 2028 remains a key marker because physical game production for older releases is not expected to end before then, leaving room for collector’s editions of PS5 and PS6 titles.
  • The dispute also highlights Sony’s internal split: the electronics unit that sells audio gear is separate from PlayStation, though the timing of the vinyl promotion amplified broader frustration over physical media.

Insights

Why is Sony championing physical vinyl records while plotting the death of physical PlayStation games by 2028?
Could the booming billion-dollar vinyl market eventually force the gaming industry to resurrect physical discs for collectors?
Does the turntable controversy expose a costly communication breakdown between Sony's deeply fragmented corporate divisions?