Sony Faces Another Lawsuit Regarding PS Store Pricing

Sony Interactive Entertainment is once again in legal hot water, this time with the Dutch consumer foundation Massaschade & Consument. The organization has launched a lawsuit claiming Sony’s policy of restricting digital game sales to its PlayStation Store is pushing prices sky-high.

The Dutch watchdog alleges that by locking digital games exclusively to the PS Store, Sony is hiking up prices unreasonably. This closed ecosystem means you can only buy digital PlayStation games directly from Sony, unlike systems like the Nintendo Switch or Xbox Series X|S where codes can be bought from various retailers. Tweakers, a Dutch publication translated by VibrantStorm on ResetEra, shared these findings, pointing out that digital games average 47% more than physical copies, even though distributing them digitally should be cheaper for Sony.

According to the translated report, the foundation accuses Sony of exploiting its dominating position in the console market to inflate prices within its restricted digital store setup. This lawsuit could be a big moment for Dutch PlayStation users, as the foundation invites them to join in the legal challenge against Sony without any fees. With a court date expected later this year, there’s a chance this could pave the way for third-party sellers to gain access to the digital marketplace—should the court side with the foundation.

It’s worth noting that Sony is facing similar lawsuits elsewhere, including in Portugal and the U.K. In the U.K., the Competition Appeals Court has given the green light for a case against Sony, emphasizing the need for fair competition in market-leading companies. Even in the U.S., Sony encountered similar legal challenges over its digital sales monopoly.

So, will the scales tip in favor of more open digital game sales on PlayStation? It’s a matter of playing the waiting game to see if Sony will be compelled to loosen its grip on its digital sales policies.