Sony is facing a major lawsuit in the Netherlands, with a consumer group accusing the tech giant of overcharging players for digital PlayStation games.
The group claims Sony has used its control of the PlayStation Store to push prices up by as much as 47% compared to physical copies of the same games.
Stichting Massaschade & Consument, the group behind the case, states that Dutch players have overpaid on these games by around €435 million since 2013, arguing that Sony’s move to block third-party digital game codes and focus on diskless PS5 consoles has left players with no choice but to buy from Sony’s own store.
Dutch group suing Sony for establishing “Sony tax”
This setup, they say, lets Sony charge more than it should, calling it a “Sony tax.” The complaint highlights that digital games should be cheaper to sell, since there are no packaging or shipping costs. Instead, the opposite has happened.
The case points to Sony’s dominant position in the Dutch market, with around 80% of console users on PlayStation. That dominance, the group says, has allowed the company to limit competition and keep prices high.
The lawsuit follows Sony’s 2019 decision to stop selling digital codes through other retailers, a move that critics say hurt both competition and consumers.
The group is asking for refunds for affected users and changes to how Sony runs its digital store. That could include allowing other companies to sell digital PlayStation games or forcing Sony to lower its prices.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Sony has faced similar legal action. Back in August 2022, UK consumer rights expert Alex Neill launched a legal claim over Sony’s 30% cut on digital sales. The case is currently still ongoing.
Sony has not commented on the Dutch lawsuit. The first court hearing is expected in late 2025, and the outcome could impact how digital games are sold across Europe as well as how much players pay for them.
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