Sony CEO Hiroki Totoki has sold more than half of his personal shares in the company just days after Sony announced it will end production of physical PlayStation game discs in January 2028.
According to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Totoki sold 225,000 shares on July 3, just two days after Sony revealed its plans to phase out physical game disc production. The shares were sold at $21.02 each, bringing the total value of the transaction to approximately $4.7 million.
The sale reduced Totoki’s ownership stake by roughly 56%, leaving him with 173,250 shares.
Another Sony Executive Also Sold Shares
The SEC filing also shows that Sony Chief Strategy Officer Toshimoto Mitomo sold 25,000 shares on the same day at the same price of $21.02 per share. The sale generated roughly $525,500 and represented about 18% of his holdings.
While executive stock sales are common and can happen for many personal or financial reasons, the timing of both transactions has attracted attention following Sony’s major PlayStation announcement.
Sony Stock Remains Strong
Despite the backlash surrounding the company’s move away from physical media, Sony’s stock has continued to perform well.
At the time of writing, Sony shares are trading around $21.20 on the New York Stock Exchange, marking an increase of roughly 6% since the physical disc announcement on July 1.
PlayStation Fans Continue to Push Back
Sony’s decision to stop producing physical PlayStation game discs has become one of the biggest gaming stories of the month. Although many players expected the industry to become increasingly digital over time, the announcement still caught many fans off guard.
The company has given players an 18-month transition period before the change takes effect, but collectors and fans who prefer physical media remain vocal in their opposition.
A Change.org petition titled “Don’t Kill the Disc” has already surpassed 216,000 signatures, with supporters urging Sony to reverse its decision. As of now, Sony has not publicly responded to the petition or addressed the growing criticism from the PlayStation community.
With the transition to an all-digital future now underway, the debate over game preservation, ownership, and consumer choice is likely to continue well into 2028.
