Sony settles $7.85M PlayStation lawsuit over digital game price restrictions
A federal judge has given preliminary approval to a $7.85 million settlement in a lawsuit against Sony Interactive Entertainment. The case accused the company of unfairly limiting competition in the digital PlayStation games market. Over 4.4 million US consumers could receive compensation under the agreement. The lawsuit, originally filed in 2021, claimed Sony blocked third-party retailers from selling download vouchers for PlayStation games after April 1, 2019. This restriction allegedly forced consumers to buy digital versions directly from the PlayStation Store, sometimes at higher prices. The settlement applies to those who purchased eligible games through the store before that date and saw price increases of at least 50 cents.
Most affected players will not need to take action. If they have an active PlayStation Network account, they will automatically receive store credits. However, those with deactivated accounts must contact the settlement administrator by August 27, 2026, to request a paper check.
The plaintiffs' legal team has asked for up to one-third of the settlement fund as fees. Consumers who wish to exclude themselves from the agreement—and keep the right to sue Sony separately—must submit an exclusion request by July 2, 2026. The court will hold a final approval hearing on October 15, 2026, but payouts will only begin after any appeals are resolved. The settlement covers millions of US gamers who bought qualifying PlayStation titles before Sony’s policy change. Once finalised, eligible consumers will receive compensation either as store credits or checks. The timeline for payments depends on the court’s final decision and any legal challenges.
