Summary
- Sony is accused of overcharging on the PlayStation Store in a newly filed lawsuit by Dutch consumer group Massaschade & Consument.
- The lawsuit alleges digital games are 47% more expensive in the PlayStation Store than physical versions.
- If successful, the result of the lawsuit could impact the digital game market and potentially force Sony to open the PlayStation Store up to other sellers.
Dutch consumer group Massaschade & Consument has filed a lawsuit against Sony, which accuses the company of abusing its market-leading position to keep prices high on the PlayStation Store. The consumer group argues that Sony charges much more for digital games on average in the PlayStation Store than it does for physical games.
Sony has faced legal action in the past involving the PlayStation Store, including a £5 billion lawsuit that alleged PlayStation’s terms and conditions for developers and publishers that sell games on its platforms were in breach of competition law in 2022. In 2023, Sony faced a $7.9 billion class action lawsuit over its PlayStation Store practices, which alleged that the company was overcharging customers and “abusing its dominant position” in the gaming market. Two years later, Sony is now dealing with a lawsuit in 2025 that places the PlayStation Store under legal scrutiny once more.
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In the new lawsuit against Sony, Massaschade & Consument argues that digital games on the PlayStation Store cost 47% more than physical versions, despite the costs of publishing and distribution being lower. As reported by MP1st, the claim is based on research conducted by the Dutch consumer group, which alleges that the PlayStation Store’s closed system and Sony’s dominant position in the console market leads to “artificially high prices.” Massaschade & Consument is unhappy with the lack of choices for consumers on the PlayStation Store, since people are discouraged from buying digital game keys from other stores. The lawsuit echoes similar claims from the 2022 lawsuit filed against Sony in the UK.
Dutch Consumer Group Massaschade & Consument Files Lawsuit Against Sony Over PlayStation Store Practices
- The lawsuit alleges PlayStation Store practices and Sony’s dominant market position led to “artificially high prices.”
- PlayStation users in the Netherlands may join the lawsuit for free if they bought any items or games from the PlayStation Store.
- The first court hearing will take place at the end of the year.
PlayStation users in the Netherlands who bought games on the PlayStation Store, as well as DLC or microtransactions, can join the lawsuit for free. The first court hearing is expected to take place at the end of 2025, and if the lawsuit is successful, the outcome could have a major impact on digital games and publishing. For example, the result could force Sony to open up its digital market to other sellers. However, the final verdict may not be presented for quite some time, due to the legal steps involved with the case.
Lawsuits involving digital storefronts aren’t new, with Apple having faced lawsuits due to its 30% cut on the App Store. In a similar manner, Epic filed its prolific lawsuit against Apple and Google in 2020. Although these cases are wholly separate from Sony’s latest lawsuit, Sony allegedly overcharging its consumers and acting as a monopoly in the gaming market are reminiscent of claims detailed in the aforementioned lawsuits.
Sony
- Date Founded
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May 7, 1946
- Headquarters
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Minato City, Tokyo, Japan
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