PlayStation users may soon receive compensation as part of a $7.85 million preliminary settlement in a class-action lawsuit over PlayStation Store purchases. Sony has agreed to the settlement, which addresses claims that the company unfairly controlled the market for certain digital games, keeping prices artificially high.
Lawsuit Background
The lawsuit, filed three years ago, alleged that Sony violated federal antitrust laws and state competition laws by limiting how and where digital PlayStation games could be sold. Sony has not admitted wrongdoing, and no court has ruled on the underlying claims. However, a federal court in California has granted preliminary approval to the settlement.
Eligible Purchases
The settlement covers select PlayStation Store purchases made between April 1, 2019, and December 31, 2023. Only games that were previously sold as store vouchers and later saw a price increase of at least 50 cents after transitioning to digital-only sales between January 1, 2017, and March 31, 2019, qualify. Affected titles reportedly include major franchises such as The Last of Us, Call of Duty, and Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China. A full list is available on the settlement website.
Compensation Details
Compensation will be automatically distributed to eligible PlayStation Network accounts, likely in the form of PSN credits. The total settlement fund is $7.85 million, but individual payouts are expected to be modest due to the large number of eligible users. Up to 25 percent of the fund will go to legal fees, taxes, and costs, with the remainder split among all eligible users. The exact amount per person is not yet known.
Next Steps
A final fairness hearing is scheduled for October 15, after which distribution details will be finalized. Users who wish to opt out must submit a written request to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, San Francisco Division, by July 2. The Independent has contacted Sony for comment.
Separately, a UK class-action lawsuit also claims Sony overcharged millions of PlayStation users by forcing digital game purchases through its own store, limiting competition and driving up prices. Sony denies the accusations, stating its system is fair and common in the gaming industry.
