Sony has reached a $7.85 million settlement to resolve a class action lawsuit accusing it of antitrust practices in its PlayStation Store. It was accused of preventing other retailers from selling digital redemption codes, creating a monopoly that made games more expensive. The company does not admit fault but will pay users who purchased digital titles between 2019 and 2023.
How the digital monopoly works on the PlayStation platform 🎮
The lawsuit argued that Sony forced developers to sell their games only on the PlayStation Store, eliminating competition from external stores that offered cheaper redemption codes. By controlling 100% of digital sales, Sony could set high prices and charge a 30% commission on each transaction. This walled garden model limited user options and kept costs high, something the plaintiffs considered a violation of competition laws.
Paying $7.85 million: the price of not sharing the toys 💸
Sony will spend $7.85 million on this settlement, an amount that for the company is like finding a coin between the sofa cushions of its mansion. Meanwhile, users who bought digital games might get a couple of euros back, just what they need to buy a DLC for a virtual hat. In the end, the monopoly is dismantled, but only enough so that Sony doesn't have to change its business model.