Sony is facing a massive lawsuit worth $7.9 billion over allegations of unfair pricing on its PlayStation Store. A London tribunal has ruled that the lawsuit, brought on behalf of nearly 9 million customers in the UK, can proceed. Consumer advocate Alex Neill is leading the case, which seeks damages of up to $6.23 billion plus interest.
The lawsuit claims that Sony abused its dominant position by forcing customers to buy digital games and add-ons exclusively through the PlayStation Store, which charges a 30% commission to developers and publishers. Neill argues that this has resulted in higher prices for consumers.
Sony’s lawyers have contested the lawsuit, stating that it is flawed from start to finish and should be dismissed. However, the Competition Appeal Tribunal has ruled in favor of Neill, allowing the case to continue. It did, however, exclude individuals who made PlayStation Store purchases after the case was filed in 2022 from the claimant class.
Neill believes that this ruling is a significant step towards justice for consumers. Sony has yet to respond to the ruling.
