Sony Wins Australian 'Shonky' Award Over Disc Production Phaseout
Consumer group Choice gives PlayStation a dubious honor for ending physical disc production and digital license policies.
Sony Interactive Entertainment has received a Shonky Award from Australian consumer advocacy group Choice, which annually highlights what it considers the worst products and services. The award specifically targets Sony's decision to end PlayStation disc production starting January 2028, combined with the company's current End-User License Agreement for digital game purchases.
Choice's write-up focuses on the implications of buying digital games through the PlayStation Store. The group notes that while downloading a game or movie for immediate play is convenient, the long-term ownership of that content is less certain. According to Sony's licensing terms, customers who purchase digital downloads are buying a license to access the content, not owning the game or movie itself.
PlayStation joins Virgin Australia, Ticketmaster, and other companies in this year's list of Shonky Award recipients. The award is part of Choice's annual Hall of Shame series, which it describes as highlighting the worst products and services uncovered by its experts each year.
Source: Push Square