Sony faces £2 billion lawsuit from 12 million UK PlayStation users who claim the company overcharged them for years
Sony is gearing up for a major courtroom battle in London as a class-action lawsuit accusing the company of systematically overcharging UK PlayStation users for digital games and in-game purchases heads to trial, The Financial Times reports.
The case, which is set to begin on 10 March at the Competition Appeal Tribunal and is expected to last 10 weeks, represents one of the largest consumer claims in recent UK history.
If successful, affected users could receive around £162 each, including interest, for purchases made over the roughly 10-year eligibility period ending in February 2026.
At the heart of the complaint is Sony’s requirement that all digital games and add-on content for PlayStation consoles be sold exclusively through the PlayStation Store. The company charges developers and publishers a commission, typically 30%, on these transactions, which claimants say gets passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices.
Lawyers for the claimants, including Robert Palmer KC, describe PlayStation users as an “entirely captive class” trapped in Sony’s ecosystem. They argue that by prohibiting rival download platforms or alternative payment systems, Sony has stifled competition and exploited its market power, breaching UK competition law.
This mirrors broader scrutiny of tech platforms’ app store practices. The lawsuit draws parallels to a recent UK ruling against Apple, where the Competition Appeal Tribunal found the company abused its dominance by charging up to 30% commissions on App Store purchases (a decision Apple is appealing).
The shift to digital gaming, fueled by faster internet and consumer preference, has amplified the issue, as more purchases occur through Sony’s storefront rather than physical retailers.
The claim is an “opt-out” class action, meaning eligible UK PlayStation owners who bought digital games or in-game content during the relevant period are automatically included unless they choose to exclude themselves.
Consumer advocate Alex Neill, who is leading the effort, has framed it as a fight to protect gamers from unfair pricing and introduce more competition into digital distribution.
