Sony Reports 127 Million Monthly Active Users Despite Protests Over Physical Media
Sony recorded 127 million monthly active users for the second quarter of fiscal year 2026, marking an increase of eight million users compared to the same period last year, Push Square reported. The financial figures arrive after months of organized fan pushback against recent corporate strategies, including studio closures and a planned shift away from physical media.
The resistance peaked around a decision to stop manufacturing physical versions of new titles starting in January 2028. Activism groups organized the “No Disc, No Buy” campaign alongside a PlayStation blackout rally led by Does It Play, which urged users to turn off their PS5 consoles for a week to target monthly active user metrics.
Financial records released by Sony indicate that the demonstrations failed to alter platform growth. Monthly active users rose by two million compared to the first quarter of 2026, and September logged a 7% year-on-year increase in active accounts, reaching a record high for the month. Total playtime for the quarter climbed 4% compared to the previous year.
Digital Software Sales Continue to Outpace Physical Discs
While the “No Disc, No Buy” initiative aimed to protest the diminishing role of physical media, digital purchases expanded during the quarter. Sony reported that 78% of all full-game software sales were digital, representing a 6% increase over the same period in the previous fiscal year. That figure excludes downloadable content and microtransactions.
Financial disclosures from Push Square show that digital games generated ¥330.8 billion, up ¥60.5 billion year-on-year. Physical software revenue also grew, bringing in ¥43.1 billion—an increase of nearly ¥8 billion compared to the second quarter of fiscal year 2025.
Sony has not commented on the demonstrations or altered its timeline to cease physical disc production in January 2028. Polygon reported that circana advisor Mat Piscatella observed no measurable dip in player engagement during the blackout week.
Marvel’s Wolverine Sales Reach 2.4 Million Units as Console Shipments Slow
Sony CFO Lin Tao announced during a financial briefing that total PS5 console sales reached 97.9 million units following the sale of 2.6 million units in the three months ending September 30, according to Video Games Chronicle. That total is down from the four million consoles sold during the same quarter last year, a decline attributed to supply constraints and memory component costs rather than a drop in consumer demand.
To bolster its financials, Sony raised its Game & Network Services Segment sales forecast by 6%, citing strong performance from non-first-party titles and increased pre-orders for Grand Theft Auto VI. IGN confirmed that cumulative sales for Marvel’s Wolverine reached 2.4 million units as of November 4, fifty days after its release. That performance trails Insomniac Games’ previous release, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, which sold 2.5 million copies on its first day in October 2023.
Engadget noted that network services revenue grew by 19.5% to ¥218.3 billion. Sony executives stated that memory procurement for the next fiscal year has been secured with suppliers to meet projected unit sales.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sony’s Financial Results
Did the PS5 blackout protest reduce Sony’s active user count?
No, Sony recorded 127 million monthly active users for the quarter, an increase of eight million users compared to the same period last year and two million more than the previous quarter.
How many copies of Marvel’s Wolverine did Sony sell?
Cumulative sales for Marvel’s Wolverine exceeded 2.4 million units as of November 4, according to figures released in Sony’s latest financial report.
What percentage of full-game software sales were digital?
Digital downloads accounted for 78% of all full-game software purchases during the quarter, a 6% increase from the same period in the previous fiscal year.
How many total PS5 consoles has Sony sold to date?
Sony’s total PS5 sales reached 97.9 million units following the sale of 2.6 million consoles during the quarter ending September 30.
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