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Sony Faces £2B UK Lawsuit Over PlayStation Charges
2 Mar
Summary
- Sony is being sued for almost £2 billion in the UK.
- The lawsuit involves 12.2 million users of PlayStation.
- It follows a successful antitrust case against Apple.
A significant antitrust lawsuit has been filed in the UK against Sony, with the company potentially liable for nearly £2 billion (approximately $2.7 billion). The class action lawsuit represents around 12.2 million users who claim Sony has unfairly overcharged them for digital games and in-game content purchased via the PlayStation Store.
The suit argues that Sony holds a dominant market position, enabling it to set prices and charge a 30 percent commission on digital sales. The legal action covers UK residents who owned a PlayStation console and made digital purchases between August 19, 2016, and February 12, 2026. As an opt-out case, affected users will automatically be included unless they choose not to participate, with potential compensation of around £162 per person.
Sony has countered by raising concerns about security and privacy risks associated with third-party downloads, as reported by the Financial Times. The company also stated that the commission from digital sales is vital for offsetting losses incurred from selling consoles at minimal profit.
This legal challenge mirrors a recent successful antitrust case where the UK's Competition Appeal Tribunal found Apple to be abusing its market dominance and overcharging App Store users. Apple has since filed an appeal against the imposed £1.5 billion (approximately $2 billion) fine.
