Sony enforced its strictest-ever social media guidelines on first-party studio staff after announcing the end of physical media for PlayStation games. Former Sony Santa Monica Studio writer Alanah Pearce shared details from employees in a video posted this week.
The guidelines followed Sony's July 1 announcement that all new PlayStation games from January 2028 will be digital-only. This covers third-party titles as well as those from Sony Interactive Entertainment.
Pearce said employees at first-party studios described the rules as the strictest they had seen. She noted that Sony regularly issues communications guidance but added that this instance stood out because staff anticipated a major public reaction.
"They would only have done this if they knew it was going to be an enormous PR issue," Pearce said. "This is no surprise to them."
Sony stated at the time of the announcement that the change reflects shifting consumer preferences toward digital formats.
