Gamer Boycott PS Blackout Did Not Affect PlayStation Engagement Metrics, Analyst Says

Data from Circana shows that the “PS Blackout” user boycott has failed to produce any noticeable changes in player numbers or engagement levels.

Some players had hoped that their refusal to participate would significantly alter activity statistics and influence Sony’s management. This summer, Sony announced it would stop producing physical discs for PlayStation games, which sparked a massive wave of discontent on social media. In August, several proactive users organized the “PS Blackout” boycott.

Initially, PS Blackout was planned as a one-week initiative. The organizers of the boycott were criticized at the time because having a set end date meant it was not truly a boycott. Following that feedback, PS Blackout was restructured and repositioned as an indefinite boycott.

Under the plan, participants in PS Blackout were instructed not to purchase games or subscriptions in the Sony store, avoid using PlayStation services, and refrain from playing on the console, or alternatively play in offline mode so as not to register in activity statistics.

Several weeks have passed since the start of the boycott, and players were eager to learn the consequences of PS Blackout. Judging by the available information, there is little reason to celebrate.

Circana analyst Mat Piscatella shared on social media that, according to their available data, “no significant changes in either the number of players or their level of engagement have been observed.”

GTA VI is scheduled for release in November, so there is every reason to believe that these player activity metrics will increase significantly by the end of the year.