A federal judge has preliminarily approved a $7.8 million settlement against Sony for allegedly monopolizing digital game sales, impacting millions of PlayStation users. The lawsuit claims that Sony engaged in practices that stifled competition in the PlayStation Store.
The case began on May 7, 2021. It alleges that Sony’s actions eliminated retail price competition on digital games sold through its platform. Eligible US residents who purchased specific titles between April 1, 2019, and December 31, 2023, may receive compensation.
Key facts about the settlement:
- The settlement applies to approximately 4.4 to 4.5 million US PlayStation accounts.
- Individual payouts are expected to be between $1 and $3 per qualifying purchase.
- Compensation will be issued as PSN wallet credit rather than cash.
A Fairness Hearing is scheduled for October 15, 2026, to determine the settlement’s fairness. Meanwhile, Sony has not admitted any wrongdoing as part of this agreement.
The core allegation remains market monopolization. Eligible titles must have previously had a retail voucher sold at scale and experienced a price increase of at least $0.50 after April 2019. The case is separate from the “PlayStation You Owe Us” collective claim filed in 2022.
The Saveri Law Firm stated, “If you do not request exclusion from the Settlement Class by July 2, 2026, you are a member of the Settlement Class, and if you do nothing you will remain in the Settlement Class.” The exact individual refund amount is uncertain due to varying claimant numbers.
