Sony is promoting physical media through its music business while PlayStation users continue to criticize the company’s plans for game discs.
The company shared a promotional post for the PS-LX3BT Turntable on July 26, inviting customers to “drop the needle, press play, and enjoy music the way it was meant to be heard.” Sony first announced the turntable in January, and the product went on sale in April 2026. The promotion appeared on Sony Electronics’ post.
Rediscover the warmth, detail, and ritual of vinyl with the LX3 Turntable. Drop the needle, press play, and enjoy music the way it was meant to be heard. Time to upgrade: https://t.co/kkSP2R2eKj pic.twitter.com/HESluTGSgw
— Sony Electronics (@SonyElectronics) July 26, 2026
The timing drew criticism from PlayStation users because Sony has said it will stop producing physical game discs beginning in 2028. Several users saw the turntable advertisement as an uncomfortable contrast with the company’s position on boxed games.
The account Does it play? argued that Sony appears willing to support vinyl as a smaller market while moving away from PlayStation game discs. Another post from MiX Mistery pointed to vinyl’s renewed sales and called Sony’s treatment of game discs hypocritical. Miss made a similar comparison between vinyl, comics, and physical games.
Vinyl Sales Reached a New Milestone
Vinyl and other physical music formats have continued to recover over the past several years. The Recording Industry Association of America’s 2025 report recorded $1.04 billion in vinyl purchases during the year. It was the first time vinyl music sales passed the $1 billion mark in a calendar year this century.
Physical PlayStation game sales remain much larger in volume, but they have been declining. Around 70 million PlayStation game discs shipped during fiscal 2025, accounting for 22% of total PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 game sales. That figure represented a 4% year-over-year decline and was 87% below the peak recorded in 2008 and 2009, according to VGChartz.
The figures help explain Sony’s move toward digital distribution, but they have not erased the demand for physical options. Some players still want boxed games for collecting, resale, ownership, or offline access, even as digital purchases become more common.
Sony’s turntable advertisement has placed that disagreement back in front of PlayStation users. Share your thoughts in the comments, and follow us on X, Bluesky, YouTube, and Instagram.
