I’m flagging a development that, if true, suggests Sony might be feeling out whether its decision to end disc production has bitten off more than expected. According to Eurogamer, an informed tech channel alleges a sweeping developer survey was rolled out asking about the practicalities of “killing discs.” Take this with a pinch of salt — the evidence is thin, but the implications are juicy.
What Was Reported
Per Eurogamer, mention of the survey originates from the YouTube tech-reporting channel Moore's Law is Dead and its host Tom (no surname provided). Tom allegedly told contacts that “there is a survey Sony sent out to developers - [that's] what I was told by my contacts - that is a bigger survey than they've sent almost ever before, if not ever before.”
The survey reportedly included questions “in a not direct way” probing whether there are problems with how games are sold physically, effectively soliciting developer feedback on Sony's plan to end disc production. Eurogamer notes there is no other publicly available evidence of the survey beyond that claim, and that it asked Sony about the report's veracity.
This chatter arrives against the backdrop of Sony's previously announced move to end PlayStation disc production, a decision the company said was driven by dwindling physical sales and digital dominance described as “consumer preferences.” The announcement sparked visible industry backlash at events like Gamescom and on social media, where Sony has reportedly implemented newer, stricter guidelines to staff because of the reaction.
The Source & Credibility
We must be blunt: the only cited source for the survey is Moore's Law is Dead via Eurogamer's write-up. Eurogamer explicitly says there is no other evidence for the survey's existence beyond that account, and it has asked Sony about the claim. That means this is an unverified industry whisper, not a confirmed corporate U-turn.
At the same time, the broader facts around the disc decision are public: Sony announced in July that it would start ending PlayStation disc production from early 2028, and later clarified that disc output would “drop by 10 percent in 2028, not to 10 percent.” Those clarifications are real and relevant when judging how flexible the company might be if developer feedback is negative.
Other industry signals are on the record: Hideo Kojima publicly spoke out about the announcement, and his relationship with Sony regarding new game Physint had “presumably soured by then,” per Eurogamer. Publisher and developer reactions have been loud enough that some are now speculating whether Sony is conducting genuine damage control — or merely taking notes.
What It Could Mean
If the survey did go out as described, the simplest reading is that Sony is gathering developer input to smooth a controversial shift. That could be about logistics and regional realities, or it might be about preserving options for certain titles where physical sales still matter. For example, Marvel's Wolverine reportedly made a fifth of its sales revenue from physical games — a concrete, if isolated, data point that could influence decisions.
There are two realistic scenarios, if you accept the survey claim at face value: one, Sony keeps the policy but tweaks its rollout timing or exceptions; or two, it keeps marching toward its original plan regardless of developer feedback. I think it’s wishful thinking that Sony would entirely reverse course, but the company’s own clarification about a 10 percent drop shows the narrative around the numbers can be adjusted.
There’s also the thorny question of how such a change would affect specific projects. Could major upcoming releases like The Witcher 4 still see physical editions? CD Projekt Red previously said it was “powerless” regarding that kind of decision, which suggests some publishers may have limited sway even if Sony listens to developers.
Rumour and industry maneuvering have consequences beyond Sony alone. If the survey is genuine and results in any policy shifts, it could alter which studios keep pursuing disc manufacturing agreements and which accept a digital-only future. For more on the public debate over Sony’s numbers and the later clarification, see our piece on PlayStation disc cut numbers. And for the ongoing saga involving Kojima’s team and platform ownership questions, check our coverage of Kojima's Physint.
Why This Matters
Even as a rumor, a developer survey of the sort described is notable because it would mean Sony is soliciting frontline
