Sony faces $2.7 billion PlayStation UK lawsuit for allegedly overcharging millions from…

Sony is currently facing a £2 billion ($2.7 billion) class action lawsuit in London brought by consumer campaigner Alex Neill on behalf of approximately 12.2 million UK PlayStation users. The lawsuit alleges that Sony breached competition law by exploiting its control over the PlayStation Store to charge excessive prices for digital games – including titles like “Gran Turismo” and “God of War,” as well as games from other publishers such as “Call of Duty” – and in-game content for nearly a decade. Claimants argue Sony’s near-monopoly allows it to set prices and charge a 30% commission to publishers, significantly higher than the 12-20% typical of more competitive PC platforms.

The lawsuit further contends that Sony incentivizes excessive spending, even among children, through in-game purchases for progression and customization. The case, scheduled for a 10-week hearing at the Competition Appeal Tribunal, seeks £1.97 billion in damages, potentially reimbursing eligible customers who purchased digital content through the PlayStation Store up to February 2026. Affected individuals are automatically included unless they opt out.

Sony has not yet commented on the lawsuit, but previously defended its distribution model. This case follows a similar lawsuit against Apple last year, where Apple lost a claim regarding high App Store commissions and is appealing the decision.

(Source：Times of India)