Sony has agreed to a $7.85 million settlement to resolve a class action lawsuit in the United States regarding its digital sales practices.
The lawsuit alleges that Sony created a monopoly by ending the sale of digital game-specific vouchers at third-party retailers in April 2019, forcing consumers to purchase exclusively through the PlayStation Store, often at higher prices.
A “fairness hearing” is scheduled for October 15, 2026 as the credits will only be distributed after final court approval. To receive compensation, users must meet specific requirements. It is pertinent to note that the user must be a resident of the United States.
The timeline for digital games on the PS Store is between April 1, 2019, and December 31, 2023. Additionally, the game purchased must have a mass retail voucher sold before April 2019.
The average price of a game would have increased by at least $0.50 after the vouchers were removed from retail stores.
Compensation will be deposited directly into users’ PSN wallet. Individual payments for each qualifying purchase are likely to be between $1 and $3 after legal fees are deducted and the funds are divided among millions of users.
Critics argue that the agreement represents a small portion of the profits Sony made by eliminating retail competition. Sony is currently facing similar lawsuits in the UK and Europe over its digital market control.
