Sony Accused of 'Monopolizing' Sale of Games Through the PlayStation Store in New UK Class-Action Lawsuit
A $2.6 billion lawsuit accuses Sony of anti-competitive practices by monopolizing digital game sales through the PlayStation Store.Summary
A class-action lawsuit seeking $2.6 billion has been filed in the UK, alleging that Sony has been overcharging PlayStation users through its control of the PlayStation Store. Consumer campaigner Alex Neill accuses Sony of a “sustained strategy” to exclude competitors and “monopolize” digital game sales, allowing them to impose a 30% margin on digital retail prices. The lawsuit claims that approximately 12.2 million British players could be eligible for around $215 each in compensation, covering purchases made over the past decade. Sony defends its practices by stating that adding third-party stores could pose security risks and that game sales subsidize console hardware costs. This legal action mirrors a similar $900 million lawsuit against Steam owner Valve, alleging anti-competitive practices related to platform parity and commission charges. Furthermore, Sony is reportedly testing dynamic pricing on the PlayStation Store, potentially showing different prices to different users.
(Source：Ign Nordic)