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Controversy · comment analysis

Why are gamers shouting 'no disc, no buy' and boycotting PlayStation?

What YouTube comments really say about the push for physical discs, with the numbers

Updated: 01/10/2026
Because, according to commenters, digital means not owning your games and Sony is accused of burying the disc. The 'no disc, no buy' slogan makes up ~25% of the discussion under Star Wars: Galactic Racer and ~18% under Phantom Blade Zero, with traces elsewhere.

How we got here

as told by the comments
June–July 2026

Under the Resident Evil Veronica remake video, two isolated comments warn that a banned PSN account means losing access to purchases, and that 'physical media matters'.

28 August 2026

Under Phantom Blade Zero, a burst of near-identical messages ('Sin disco no hay compra', 'No disc no buy', rows of disc emojis) sets the slogan, with threats to move to PC in 2028.

Early September

The slogan spreads: a call to 'stand your ground' on 4 September under Phantom Blade Zero, 'No disc no play' under Turok: Origins, a request for a PS5 disc under Tides of Annihilation.

10–11 September

Under Until Dawn 2, one comment blames Sony for getting rid of the disc, another plans to buy the physical version, while a third happily buys digital.

29 September

Sharpest peak under Star Wars: Galactic Racer: 'No Disc = No Buy = No PS6', 'The future is PC', and jokes about full-price rentals and Vader take up a large share of the comments.

Star Wars: Galactic Racer

~25% of the discussion on this game

The slogan is mixed in with podracer reactions and comes with fears of a disc-less PS6; some say they are already buying the physical version. No explicit defender of all-digital shows up in the sample.

Boycott 100 %

The slogan ties the lack of a disc to refusing to buy a future PS6.
« No disc = No buy = No PS6 ✊ »
— @TalahonSlayer · ♥ 64 · translated · see original ↗
Digital is likened to a rental charged at full price.
« "We will rent it to you for full price" »
— @claymore7970 · ♥ 22 · translated · see original ↗
A longtime fan (since the PS1) says his money is gone without physical media.
« No physical media = no money from me. And I'm a fan since the PS1. »
— @Kimnl · ♥ 15 · translated · see original ↗

Digital OK 0 %

Phantom Blade Zero

~18% of the discussion on this game

The topic erupted there on 28 August, mostly in Spanish, through repeated messages and disc emojis. A few voices say they don't care about the format.

Boycott 90 %

Without real ownership, buying makes no sense, and a PS5 disc wouldn't work on PS6.
« Why buy it if we won't own it? Even if it comes out physically on PS5, we know we won't be able to use it on PS6. »
— @sefiverso · ♥ 6 · translated · see original ↗
With no physical version announced, some urge others not to back the game, however good it is.
« You guys do know they haven't announced a physical copy right? No matter how good the game looks or is. Don't support if it's only digital. Stand your ground Spartans!! »
— @salg696 · ♥ 5 · translated · see original ↗
The refusal extends to every game without a physical format from 2028 on.
« If there's no physical format, we don't buy it, just like the rest of the games from 2028 on. »
— @ezequieljimenez8733 · ♥ 6 · translated · see original ↗

Digital OK 10 %

An enthusiastic viewer says he doesn't care whether a physical copy exists.
« I'm psyched. Don't care about phys copies or not. »
— @JonathanMclaurine-l6z · ♥ 0 · translated · see original ↗

Until Dawn 2

~12% of the discussion on this game

The debate is more split here: a direct blame on Sony over the disc's disappearance, a +1 for the physical version, and an openly digital purchase.

Boycott 65 %

Without a disc, owning a console is pointless, with Steam cited as the counter-example.
« YOU GOT RID OF PHYSICAL DISC. THERE'S NO POINT OF OWNING YOUR CONSOLES! And I gotta pay to play online 😂 Steam never did me dirty and I still own my games from 15 years ago. FREE ONLINE PLAY! »
— @yodead369 · ♥ 0 · translated · see original ↗
A commenter adds a '+1' for the physical version, which he will pick to buy it.

Digital OK 35 %

Buying digital is seen as easier, and eagerness to play comes first.
« def buying digital is way ez like that <3 thanks and can't wait to play this game »
— @fncthebest · ♥ 0 · translated · see original ↗

Resident Evil Veronica

~4% of the discussion on this game

Two well-liked comments (111 and 81 likes) tie the disc to purchase security and the value of physical media, without an explicit boycott call.

Boycott 100 %

A banned or hacked PSN account would block re-downloads, whereas a disc stays playable.
« A scary thing to think about is if your PSN account gets banned for whatever reason or hacked you won't be able to download the games you purchased. At least with physical you can still put the disc in and play it. »
— @ajgarcia8689 · ♥ 111 · translated · see original ↗
Physical media 'matters', in a message that gathers 81 likes.
« Physical media matters »
— @neogotham2k39 · ♥ 81 · translated · see original ↗

Digital OK 0 %

Turok: Origins

~10% of the discussion on this game

A single message echoes the slogan, buried in a discussion focused on faithfulness to the Turok series.

Boycott 100 %

'No disc no play': the slogan is repeated as is.
« No disc no play »
— @ReRe_420_Fool · ♥ 0 · translated · see original ↗

Digital OK 0 %

Tides of Annihilation

~10% of the discussion on this game

Two messages ask for a PS5 disc and a collector's edition: a demand for physical media, with no explicit boycott.

Boycott 100 %

A viewer wants the game on a PS5 disc.
« Please i need this masterpiece on PS5 disk »
— @adrianpearcy8531 · ♥ 15 · translated · see original ↗
Another asks when the collector's edition is coming.
« So, Collector's Edition when? »
— @jason.waterfalls33 · ♥ 3 · translated · see original ↗

Digital OK 0 %

Where the debate standsThe debate takes the form of a wave of repetitive messages, born in late August under Phantom Blade Zero and peaking in late September under Star Wars: Galactic Racer. Opponents of all-digital clearly dominate, with a few indifferent or pro-digital voices, mainly under Until Dawn 2.

Frequently asked questions

What does 'no disc, no buy' mean?
It's a slogan repeated in comments: refusing to buy a game without a physical edition. It appears in English and especially Spanish ('Sin disco no hay compra'), often with disc emojis.
Which games are caught up in this wave?
Mostly Star Wars: Galactic Racer (~25% of the discussion) and Phantom Blade Zero (~18%), then Until Dawn 2 (~12%). Isolated traces appear under Turok: Origins, Tides of Annihilation and Resident Evil Veronica.
Why is Sony the target?
According to commenters, Sony 'killed' the disc. They fear no longer owning their games, losing purchases if an account is banned, and a PS6 that won't accept discs; some announce a move to PC.
Does every player back the boycott?
No. Some comments say they don't care about the physical format or buy digital without issue, and others simply pick the physical edition instead of boycotting. These voices stay a minority in the sample.
Analysis built from 544 public YouTube comments on the tracked videos — updated on 01/10/2026. Our methodology