PlayStation India allegedly blacklists journalists over coverage of physical media shift

PlayStation India is reportedly blacklisting media outlets over their coverage of Sony’s decision to move away from physical game discs. According to veteran industry analyst Rishi Alwani of High Chaos Run, several publications that reported on the development have since been denied access to PlayStation games. Those who cited Alwani’s earlier reporting about publishers and business partners being kept in the dark about Sony’s abandonment of physical media were among the first to be targeted.

The unofficial blacklist came to light when affected outlets asked about review or preview access for hot-button titles Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, Marvel’s Wolverine and Phantom Blade Zero. PlayStation India’s marketing staff allegedly cited High Chaos Run by name and stated that its reporting put the company in a “bad light” and was published for “views”, and apparently denied said outlets access to media assets.

Some members of the Indian media have allegedly faced an even stronger response. PlayStation India has allegedly instructed its PR agency to block certain journalists on WhatsApp, a notably severe move it is the primary mode of communication between journalists and agencies in India. Emails are still used, but WhatsApp is often more convenient due to its widespread usage among the general Indian populace. 

Now, Sony is not obliged to hand out review codes/material to any outlet, but blacklisting them for their reporting sets a worrying precedent for how the company handles criticism. Restricting access because of critical coverage effectively forces publications to choose between reporting unfavourable developments and retaining access to games required for reviews and other coverage. Alwani says Indian content creators were threatened with similar treatment a year ago after covering widely reported PS6 leaks, and only ceased after intervention from external partners.