Sony has agreed to pay $7.85 million as part of a preliminary settlement in a class-action lawsuit over purchases made on the PlayStation Store. The lawsuit, filed three years ago, alleged that Sony unfairly controlled the market for certain digital PlayStation games, using that control to keep prices artificially high. The plaintiffs argued that Sony's practices violated federal antitrust laws and some state competition laws by limiting how and where those games could be sold.
Sony has not admitted any wrongdoing, and no court has ruled on the underlying claims. However, a federal court in California has given preliminary approval to the settlement. If finalized, eligible users could receive refunds for qualifying purchases.
Eligibility and Qualifying Purchases
The settlement covers select PlayStation Store purchases made between April 1, 2019, and December 31, 2023. However, it only applies to specific games that were once sold as store vouchers and later saw a price increase of at least 50 cents after they transitioned to digital-only sales between January 1, 2017, and March 31, 2019. The eight affected titles reportedly include major franchises such as The Last of Us, Call of Duty, and Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China. A full list of eligible games is available on the settlement website.
Compensation and Distribution
Compensation is expected to 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. It is not yet clear how much each person will receive. Up to 25 percent of the settlement fund will go toward legal fees, taxes, and costs, with the remainder split among all eligible users.
A final fairness hearing is scheduled for October 15, after which distribution details will be finalized. Users who do not wish to participate must submit a written request to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, San Francisco Division, by July 2.
Broader Context
Meanwhile, a separate UK class-action lawsuit also claims Sony overcharged millions of PlayStation users by forcing digital game purchases through its own store, thereby limiting competition and driving up prices. Sony denies these accusations and maintains that its system is fair and common in the gaming industry. The Independent has contacted Sony for comment on the US settlement.
