Some PlayStation users in the United States could soon be eligible to receive a share of a proposed 7.85 million dollar class-action settlement involving Sony Interactive Entertainment.
The lawsuit, Caccuri v Sony Interactive Entertainment, alleges that Sony violated US antitrust laws by restricting how consumers could purchase digital PlayStation games. The plaintiffs claim the company forced customers to pay more for certain titles by preventing third-party retailers such as Amazon and other game-key sellers from offering digital vouchers for PlayStation games.
As a result of the policy, customers seeking digital versions of PlayStation games have generally been required to purchase them directly through the PlayStation Store.
The lawsuit argues that the move reduced consumer choice and resulted in customers paying higher prices. The issue has attracted renewed attention as PlayStation moves towards a future increasingly centred on digital distribution and plans to phase out physical media in 2028.
Sony has denied wrongdoing and disputed the claim that consumers were harmed by its actions. The court has not made a final determination that Sony violated antitrust laws.
A federal court has nevertheless preliminarily approved a 7.85 million dollar settlement. A final approval hearing is scheduled for 15 October, when the court is expected to determine whether the settlement should be finalized, how the funds will be distributed and how much will be awarded in attorneys’ fees.
Under the proposed settlement, eligible customers must be US citizens who purchased at least one qualifying game between 1 April 2019 and 31 December 2023. The games covered by the settlement are listed on the official settlement website.
Eligible customers with active PlayStation Network accounts are expected to receive their payments directly through their PSN accounts at a later date.
Customers who have deactivated their PSN accounts may instead request a cash payment by submitting evidence of their qualifying purchase history to the settlement administrator. PlayStation users can access their purchase history through their PlayStation accounts.
A separate lawsuit has also raised questions about ownership of digital PlayStation games, with Sony arguing in that case that customers do not actually own their digital games but instead receive licences to use them.
The issue has added to broader concerns among players about digital ownership as the gaming industry increasingly moves away from physical media.
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