PlayStation may be using bots to counter protests over ending physical PS5 discs

The reaction to PlayStation’s move away from physical games has been overwhelmingly negative. Still, on social media, a minority of posters are embracing an exclusively digital future. Yet, some gamers have noted suspicious activity with these cheerleaders. Insider Moore’s Law Is Dead suspects that Sony employed bots to combat the bad press.

Attack of the bots?

Since announcing it would scale back PS5 disc production in 2028, critics have thwarted the marketing efforts of Sony and its partners. With no signs of the outrage fading, PlayStation is desperate for allies. Automated accounts that companies enlist to change public perception may be one solution.

MLID struggled to find defenders of the decision, but did investigate 3 supporters.

The first example quoted a bulletin confirming the shutdown of the PS3 and Vita stores. While it’s challenging to put a positive spin on the news, the possible bot praised the development.

Calling it a “smoking gun”, the YouTuber highlighted how the account liked a message about The Odyssey film. This activity took place days before Insomniac Games confirmed screenings would feature a Marvel’s Wolverine trailer.

Connections to GTA 6 marketing

The second case study involved an account that was dormant for 6 years. Suddenly, it began lauding Rockstar Games and GTA 6 using “corporate” language. The X profile also linked to an unused TikTok account, seemingly ready for more paid promotions.

MLID is most confident that the third suspect is a social media bot. After 3 years of inactivity, the X user alternated between religious, political, and gaming topics. An odd statement about giving up on owning any digital or physical games then appeared. The poster followed many deleted accounts, boosted other obvious bots with likes, and shared a likely AI-generated image of himself.

The insider can’t be certain that PlayStation hired bots to confront PS5 disc supporters. It would be difficult to prove that it was a coordinated PR initiative or done by a third party with another motive. That said, sites selling fake engagement survive in part because large companies rely on them to promote products or influence opinions.