Sony's decision to stop making physical discs for its PlayStation games starting in 2028 has opened the floodgates for brands eager to score points online.
Within hours of the announcement, companies ranging from creators of privacy software to fried chicken chains piled on, using the PlayStation's all-digital future as fodder for jokes.
Sony said the shift reflects the fact that the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces that for physical discs, Business Insider reported Thursday.
The posts tapped into a broader backlash from fans who have expressed worry about ownership, media preservation, and what happens when everything lives behind a download.
Those anxieties have been building for months as the gaming industry steadily shifts away from physical media. Grand Theft Auto VI — one of the most anticipated games of the decade — is being sold in stores with a download code rather than a game disc. The decision, announced by creator Rockstar Games last month, sparked a similar debate.
Gaming accessory maker GameSir quipped on X following Sony's announcement that it would stop making physical controllers and shift to downloadable ones, allowing gamers to control their devices "via quantum entanglement and pure imagination."
"True pro-gamers don't need a controller in their hands; they need the controller in their souls," GameSir's post read, calling the decision a pivot toward a "beautifully empty-handed future."
KFC España also took a swipe at Sony, saying it would begin offering its fried chicken only via downloadable PNG format, while Domino's UK compared Sony's all-digital move to replacing its pizzas with a download code so diners could enjoy them in "an entirely virtual sense."
Privacy-focused Proton joked that it would begin offering physical versions of its digital services in light of Sony's decision.
"Proton Mail becomes encrypted letters hand-delivered by our team, Pass becomes someone who follows you around and remembers your passwords for you, VPN flies you to one of 90+ locations so you can browse like a local, Drive ships every user a folder (additional folders available upon request), and Lumo AI sends a smart employee to your location to answer questions, help with work, and draw things."
In the meantime, pizzas, passwords, and fried chicken remain stubbornly physical — for now.
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Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert is a senior reporter on Business Insider's West Coast team. When she's not writing about trending business and tech news, from the latest supply chain snarls or advancements in AI, she covers the food and restaurant industries, specifically companies such as Starbucks and McDonald's.Some of her prior areas of focus have included coverage of the Supreme Court and emerging technologies such as quantum computing.Katherine has worked on award-nominated projects and has appeared on Good Morning America, NBC, CNN, and other outlets to discuss her reporting.Prior to joining Business Insider, she covered retail, hospitality, and nonprofits at the San Fernando Valley Business Journal and received a master's degree in investigative reporting from the University of Southern California.Reach outDo you have feedback or a story tip? Contact Katherine on Signal at byktl.50, or email her at [email protected].Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @scrawlgirl.Some of her recent scoops, exclusives, and original stories include: Starbucks set up a new office. It's a 5-minute drive from the CEO's California home.Inside Starbucks' crackdown on cup notesEndless Shrimp was Red Lobster's rock bottom. Now it's clawing back.Chipotle's new PAC signals a change in how the company engages in politicsKFC lost its footing in the Chicken Wars. Now it's gunning for a 'Kentucky Fried Comeback.'A few other highlights include: Clarence Thomas raised him 'as a son.' Now he's facing 25-plus years on weapons and drug charges.Call her Ivanka Kushner'Maybe I'll just resign:' Federal workers react to DOGE productivity emailSpaceX launches cause late-night booms that rattle windows, set off car alarms, and may damage property. Locals are pushing back.The US-China tech race is moving from chips to the raw materials they're made of
