'You'll Own Nothing': Sony Wins Hall of Shame Award for Deciding to Kill Physical Discs
Shonky Award goes to PlayStation
by Liam Croft · Push SquareI can't imagine this is something Hermen Hulst will want to display on his mantelpiece: PlayStation and Sony have won a Hall of Shame award, called a Shonky Award, from an Australian outlet for its decision to stop making physical discs.
Choice, an Australian website, runs an annual Hall of Shame series, known as the Shonky Awards, where it highlights the "worst products and services uncovered by our experts this year". In 2026, PlayStation finds itself with a Shonky Award alongside Virgin Australia, Ticketmaster, and more companies.
This is because of the company's decision to end PlayStation disc production from January 2028, combined with its current EULA (End-User License Agreement) tied to digital game purchases. A lot of the Choice write-up focuses on the latter:
"In this age of instant gratification, it doesn’t get much more convenient than being able to easily download a movie or video game to your collection to start enjoying immediately," it opens with. "But will you be enjoying them for years to come? That’s less certain."
The site then continues: "Because, according to Sony Interactive Entertainment, you don’t actually own the movies and games that you buy as a digital download instead of a disc. Instead, you’re buying a licence to access the content via Sony’s various digital storefronts, such as the PlayStation Store."
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It speaks about how Sony still "owns your digital media", and how, in reality, you're actually buying a "long-term rental". Choice then points to the sudden removal of Studio Canal movies from the PS Store, where refunds weren't offered.
The decision to stop physical PlayStation discs is then discussed, with worries over digital ownership arising once more. It analyses the EULA once more, but as we've pointed out in the past, the terms of Sony's license agreement are virtually identical to that of Xbox, Nintendo, and PC platform Steam.
All their terms of use speak about how the content you're buying is a license — you don't own it. Allow me to reshare the research editor Sammy Barker put into his previous piece concerning the EULAs on other platforms:
Steam:
The Content and Services are licensed, not sold. Your license confers no title or ownership in the Content and Services. To make use of the Content and Services, you must have a Steam Account and you may be required to be running the Steam client and maintaining a connection to the Internet.
Microsoft:
All Digital Goods are licensed, not sold. Your right to access or use any Digital Good is subject to your compliance with: (a) all license terms, license limitations, codes of conduct, and payment terms in the Terms; (b) your payment in full for the applicable Digital Good; (c) these Rules, and; (d) any additional terms provided when you acquire your license.
Nintendo:
Subject to the terms of this Agreement, Nintendo grants you a non-exclusive, revocable license to use the Software solely on the Console for your personal, non-commercial use. For clarity, the Software is licensed, not sold, to you, and you may not make use of the Software except as expressly authorized by this Agreement.
These all read very similarly and mean the exact same thing: on all the major video game platforms, you purchase a license to play a video game; you don't own the actual video game.
However, because Sony is removing the option of buying physical PlayStation discs in just over a year to channel all of its business into the PS Store, it's catching considerably more scrutiny than anyone else.
For that, PlayStation wins a Shonky Award from Choice.
"You can’t protect your licensed media based on the current EULA, and there won’t be any alternatives once the discs go away. You’ll own nothing," it concludes.
[source choice.com.au, via gamesradar.com]
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About Liam Croft
Liam grew up with a PlayStation controller in his hands and a love for Metal Gear Solid. Nowadays, he's found playing the latest and greatest PS5 games as well as supporting Derby County. That last detail is his downfall.
Comments 4
- 1
- DennisReynolds
- 6 mins ago
Yeah i'm sure Sony is upset that "Choice' doesn't like them haha. Funny how MS has sacked half the industry and has played a massive part in Ai ruining everything but its Sony they have issues with.
- 2
- Fishysensei
- 5 mins ago
Thank ***** that GOG exists.
We need more storefronts like them.
@Fishysensei 100% agree with you, having ownership over the files is what we need going forward.
"You lose! Good day, sir!"
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