A California court approved a preliminary settlement requiring Sony to pay $7.8 million to PSN users in the United States. The class action lawsuit, filed in 2021, accused the company of monopolistic practices by restricting third-party developers' access to its digital platform.
The blockade on developers and control of commissions 🎮
The lawsuit stated that Sony forced studios to sell digital titles exclusively on its official store, preventing competition from other platforms. This allowed the company to charge high commissions with no alternatives for developers. The compensation covers those who purchased physical vouchers for games at offline stores between 2019 and 2023. The final decision is expected in October 2026.
$7.8 million: the stash Sony found under the couch 💰
Sony, that company that always says PSN is a community, now has to pay for not sharing the toys properly. $7.8 million sounds like a lot, but for a company that generates billions in revenue, it's like finding loose change in the couch cushions. However, those affected will have to wait until 2026 to receive their share. Meanwhile, Sony is already calculating how to recoup that money with the next batch of DLC.