Digital games and DLCs sold by Sony are under scrutiny for maintaining exorbitant prices, with consumers claiming an alleged 'Sony tax' inflates costs by an average of 47% compared to physical disc versions, leading to a class action lawsuit.
In a fiery wave of discontent, Dutch PlayStation gamers are accusing Sony of an unjust 'Sony tax' in a class action lawsuit. The dispute centers around the belief that consumers are forking over a significant 47% more for digital games compared to their physical counterparts, all thanks to Sony's supposed monopoly on digital sales.
digging deep, the claims suggest that Sony has been exploiting its reign in the console market for a solid decade, exacerbated by its ban on other app stores on the platform. As a result, roughly 1.7 million Dutch PlayStation owners have been #unfairly handed a whopping €435 million ($505 million) extra spending bill since 2013.
While physical game releases typically see price wars among sellers, Sony's digital-only versions seem to be eroding this competitive spirit. Games sold digitally come at a hefty price, often hitting $69.99 in the US. Lucia Melcherts, head of Stichting Massaschade & Consument Foundation, points out that the massive spending on digital games has been gradually transformed into Sony's pocket change, with the tech giant imposing new conditions and demanding more cash without delivering anything new in return. Sounds a lot like Sony's taking advantage!
The alleged monopolistic behavior becomes even bolder when considering that Sony can now make decisions with minimal regard for competitors, developers, and consumers, given its 80% dominance in the Dutch console market. This stark contrast between the digital revolution's promised cheaper content and the ongoing 'Sony tax' explains why the gamers feel taken for a ride.
To make matters worse, Sony hiked prices across its product range as recently as April, further fueling the anger of gamers. With the first legal hearing set for later in 2025, the consumer action group hopes that the Dutch courts will side with them and force Sony to share the digital PlayStation content market with other providers.
Keep yourself updated on this thrilling saga by following Tom's Hardware, where we will keep you in the loop on the latest developments in the lawsuit and Sony's response. After all, knowledge is power!
*Stay in the loop*? Follow Tom's Hardware on Google News to get the latest news, analysis, and reviews right in your feeds. Be sure to hit the Follow button!
The rapid escalation of complaints indicates that PlayStation owners believe Sony has been exploiting its dominance in the console market for a decade, using digital sales to collect an estimated €435 million ($505 million) excess from consumers, through the pricing of gadgets like digital games. With the legal hearing scheduled for 2025, there's a growing expectation that Sony may be compelled to share the digital PlayStation content market with other technology providers, offering consumers a more competitive and less expensive gaming experience.
