Majority of PS5 users 'seriously considering' PC exodus thanks to physical media cull

PlayStation still hasn’t escaped the controversy surrounding its shift to all-digital media, and the latest polls suggest gamers are gearing up for an exodus.

Sure, digital games were always going to be the future, but many at least assumed that physical media would still be an option.

PlayStation crushed those hopes and dreams, however, when it announced that it’d end physical game production from 2028 onwards.

Since that bombshell, it’s been business as usual for the company, but gamers aren’t letting it off the hook that easily.

New poll suggest 50% of gamers are considering selling their PlayStation 5

The fans have been showing their distaste for PlayStation in various ways since the company first made its all-digital announcement.

Many are cancelling their PlayStation Plus subscriptions, but the recent shadow drop of the OG Call of Duty: Black Ops games is pulling people back with the promise of discounts.

However, through a poll from PushSquare, it seems like some PlayStation 5 owners are considering even more drastic action: getting rid of their console altogether.

At the time of writing, 6,805 PlayStation gamers responded to the question: “Are you considering moving from PlayStation to PC?”

Of that number, 45% of responses stated “Yes, I'm seriously considering it,” whereas only 23% said, “No, I'm sticking with PlayStation.”

A follow-up question asked: “If you're considering PC, what's the biggest reason?” and you’ll never guess the top-voted answer.

Out of 5,459 votes, 42% of responses blamed “Sony ending physical games” as the reason they’re considering leaving.

Very few answered with the better performance of PC rigs, and hardly anyone blamed the rising cost of PlayStation (and other new-gen) consoles.

READ MORE: Every PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo console price hike in 2026, including crazy 71% rise

The PlayStation 6 $1,000 price-tag is going to scare more gamers to PCs

With no sign of a U-turn from PlayStation on its physical media cull, it’s looking more and more likely that PC is your best bet for a true next-gen gaming experience.

This is because ongoing market problems and the rising cost of CPUs/RAM is going to make the next PlayStation and Xbox cost a fortune.

Valve’s Steam Machine was the first console to suffer this fate, and while its $1,000+ price has turned the majority of gamers away, the company has since insisted that it’s not its fault. The Steam Machine had to launch at that price if there was any hope to break-even with production costs.

Chances are, that PlayStation 6 and Xbox’s currently named Project Helix will not be as apologetic. These are supposedly high-end systems that blur the line between a console and PC, but will likely still be less powerful than some of the rigs you buy and build yourself.

Both next-gen consoles will inevitably cost more than the Steam Machine. That much is guaranteed. With that in mind, it’s no wonder gamers are considering biting the bullet early and jumping to PC before any more hardware price hikes. It will be interesting to see what Sony Interactive Entertainment's next move will be following the digital-only controversy.