Sony hit with $2.67 billion lawsuit over 'excessive and unfair' digital download charges

A UK tribunal is hearing a class-action lawsuit against Sony, seeking £2 billion ($2.67 billion) on behalf of approximately 12.2 million PlayStation users. The lawsuit, filed by consumer rights advocate Alex Neill, claims Sony has been “monopolising” digital game sales through the PlayStation Store, resulting in “excessive and unfair” charges. The core argument is that Sony’s closed ecosystem allows it to set retail prices at a 30% margin above wholesale prices without competition.

Sony defends its practices by citing security risks associated with third-party storefronts and arguing that digital game sales subsidize hardware sales. The lawsuit covers purchases made over roughly the past decade and is open to UK PlayStation users. This case follows a similar lawsuit filed in The Netherlands and reflects broader scrutiny of digital storefront practices, as seen with Valve’s Steam and recent EU regulations regarding Apple’s App Store.

The tribunal’s decision, expected in about 10 weeks, will likely be closely watched by other console manufacturers like Xbox and Nintendo, who also maintain control over their digital marketplaces. The outcome could potentially lead to significant changes in how digital games are sold across all console platforms.

(Source：Polygon)