Sony might be in big trouble as it faces a lawsuit, mentioning that the Sony PlayStation Store has constantly overcharged customers through its system practices. We’ll do our best to break it down in layman’s terms to keep things simple.
For those out of the loop, the Sony PlayStation Store is the online library containing all content for the consoles. It shelters the entire library of games for all PlayStation devices still in support. This includes those that are free, and also those that are paid. In one way or another, it’s also an online marketplace for downloadable content and additional in-game items you’d want to buy. All of these purchases pass through the gates of PS Store, even including items for multiplatform games such as Genshin Impact.
This is where the trouble arises. In order to use this platform, game developers and companies must provide a form of royalties to Sony from their own profits. According to Sky News, consumer rights activist and ex-managing director of nonprofit consumer advice organization Which UK Alex Neill has called out the company for its allegedly exploitative behavior. She mentions that Sony actually demands a 30% commission on every game and in-game purchase that makes its way through the PlayStation Store.
In order to keep business alive, game developers have no choice but to hike up the prices of these items. At the end of the day, the one that suffers the brunt of the damage is the consumer. Calculations for damages are between £67 (PHP 4431) and £562 (PHP 37167) excluding interest. Multiply this by the estimated 9 million claimants who have allegedly been ripped off, and it totals as high as 6 million pounds (PHP 336B). That’s a hefty price to pay, even for a multinational giant like Sony.
“With this legal action I am standing up for the millions of UK people who have been unwittingly overcharged. We believe Sony has abused its position and ripped off its customers,” Neill continues: “Gaming is now the biggest entertainment industry in the UK, ahead of TV, video and music and many vulnerable people rely on gaming for community and connection. The actions of Sony is costing millions of people who can’t afford it, particularly when we’re in the midst of a cost of living crisis and the consumer purse is being squeezed like never before.”
The partner in charge of this case against Sony PlayStation, Natasha Pearman, states that Sony has deployed an anti-competitive environment that has infringed consumers’ rights. They will continue to fight and protect consumers through legal action, hopefully pushing the company to compensate the people they’ve allegedly wronged.
