- A Dutch consumer group is seeking more than €400 million on behalf of over 1.7 million local players in a lawsuit.
- The case argues Sony’s 2028 disc-free plan will give the company monopoly over game pricing.
- Sony has faced similar lawsuits in the past across several countries.
Sony is facing heaps of backlash from gamers and developers after its contentious reveal to ditch disc releases for first-party titles by 2028. The company has been radio silent on social media for the past few days, but the pressure from the industry has continued to mount.
The company is now already facing legal pressure over the dilemma.
After the first hearing a few days ago, a Dutch consumer group is now seeking more than €400 million in damages in a class-action lawsuit, alleging that Sony’s abandonment of physical media will give it monopoly over game prices in digital stores.
Why it matters: Sony’s decision means losing game reselling, lending, and cheaper second-hand options, which would give it a monopoly over price control. The lawsuit also shows gamers are willing to take Sony to court to protect physical media.
Netherlands consumer group Stichting Massaschade & Consument issued a statement to outlet Wccftech about its goals. The group head, Lucia Melcherts, explains that Sony alone would decide what a game costs and even how long you’re allowed to use it.
Buying games digitally means you purchase a license, not a tangible product you actually own, after all.
The end of physical discs removes the last place where a PlayStation game could still be bought and sold at a competitive price.
-Head of Stichting Massaschade & Consument, Lucia Melcherts.
If Sony goes through with its decision, then PlayStation Store would become the only way to purchase its first-party games, as there would be no second-hand market. As per the group, a game price can never be fair if the gamer is left without ownership and no alternative.
Therefore, the consumer group is pushing this lawsuit on behalf of over 1.7 million Dutch gamers. To put things into perspective, over 85% of gamers worldwide oppose Sony’s decision to go disc-free.
Sony has also faced similar lawsuits in the past, settling an $8 million case in California two months ago that alleged the company monopolized the digital market.
Do you think this lawsuit will convince Sony to reconsider its controversial decision? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or join the discussion on the Tech4Gamers forum.
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Shameer Sarfaraz has previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, he loves to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games. Besides his passion for breaking news stories, Shahmeer loves spending his leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited his articles.
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