Sony has found itself facing another wave of criticism after promoting its new LX3 vinyl turntable just days after announcing plans to stop manufacturing physical game discs in 2028.

The company posted about the turntable on social media with the slogan: “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.”

On its own, the advertisement would seem completely normal. Sony has every right to promote its audio products, and vinyl remains a popular format for music fans.

However, the timing has made the post in particular controversial among PlayStation players.

‘Now Is Not the Time’

Sony’s decision to stop manufacturing physical PlayStation game discs has already caused significant backlash from fans.

Naturally, the vinyl turntable advertisement was immediately flooded with criticism. Many fans pointed out the apparent contradiction of Sony celebrating the physical nature of vinyl while simultaneously moving away from physical game media.

The frustration is not necessarily directed at the turntable itself. Instead, it is the wording and timing that have caused the biggest reaction.

Telling people to enjoy music “the way it was meant to be heard” while PlayStation fans are being told that digital games are the future, which is quite hypocritical in my opinion.

The situation has also raised an interesting question about the future of physical games. Vinyl was once considered outdated before eventually returning as a popular niche format for collectors and enthusiasts.

Could physical game discs follow a similar path? We hope not.

Sony’s turntable advertisement has left many PlayStation fans asking the same question: if physical media is worth celebrating in music, why is it suddenly no longer worth supporting in games?