Sony promoting vinyl player enrages critics opposing end of physical PS5 game discs

The launch arrives amid a growing consumer interest in analog audio and follows Sony’s broader strategy to move the PlayStation platform toward digital distribution. By tying the turntable promotion to the same announcement, Sony linked an analog music product to its phase‑out of analog game media. The announcement sparked immediate backlash across gaming outlets.

Insider Gaming and TheGamer reported PlayStation fans labeling the move tone‑deaf, stressing frustration that Sony is promoting analog music while ending analog game media. Push Square echoed the sentiment, mocking the campaign with the tagline "the way it was meant to be heard" and calling the timing tone‑deaf. Critics across the sites framed the turntable as a distraction from the disc phase‑out and questioned the relevance of a vinyl product to core gamers.

Technical reviews have begun to assess the turntable on its own merits. TechRadar described the PS‑LX3BT as a competent entry‑level model but flagged a "major price problem," while Notebookcheck echoed the quality‑versus‑cost tension. Both reviews note that the product performs well for vinyl enthusiasts, yet the negative fan reaction tied to the disc phase‑out remains a prominent theme in coverage.