2026-03-03 14:00:05
Sony is facing a £2 billion class action lawsuit in the UK over claims it overcharged millions of players through the PlayStation Store.
The case, brought before the Competition Appeal Tribunal in London, has been filed on behalf of an estimated 12.2 million UK gamers by consumer advocate Alex Neill.
The claim alleges Sony abused its dominant market position by imposing “excessive and unfair” prices on digital games and in-game purchases sold via the PlayStation Store.
At the heart of the lawsuit is Sony’s 30 per cent commission on digital sales — a fee applied to developers and publishers that the claimants argue is ultimately passed on to consumers.
The legal team contends that Sony’s “closed ecosystem” prevents rival digital storefronts from operating on PlayStation hardware, leaving players with no alternative purchasing options.
Since the launch of the original PlayStation in 1995, the brand has evolved from disc-based media to a digital-first marketplace. The latest PlayStation 5 even offers a Digital Edition without a disc drive, accelerating the shift to downloads. The claim argues that this transition has strengthened Sony’s control over pricing.
If successful, eligible consumers — anyone who purchased digital PlayStation content in the UK over the past decade — could receive compensation averaging around£162 each, including interest.
Sony denies wrongdoing, stating its model is justified and helps fund hardware development, online services and platform security. The company has also argued that allowing third-party stores could create privacy and safety risks.
The tribunal hearing is scheduled to begin on March 10 and is expected to last up to 10 weeks.
The lawsuit follows increased scrutiny of major tech platforms’ digital commissions, including recent UK action against Apple’s App Store. The outcome could have significant implications for how console marketplaces operate in the future.
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