Sony Interactive Entertainment has agreed to a $7.85 million settlement over allegations of market monopolization of its digital PlayStation games.
According to a press release, a class-action lawsuit was filed against defendant Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC in 2023 in the San Francisco Division of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. The lawsuit alleges that the company violated federal antitrust law and various state laws. Plaintiffs claim Sony monopolized the market for its digital games, resulting in higher prices for consumers, who were only able to purchase through the PlayStation Store. According to Wired, plaintiffs allege third-party retailers were restricted from selling PlayStation titles, which would have been available through “game-specific vouchers.” Retailers included Amazon, GameStop, and Walmart, according to USA Today.
Sony denies wrongdoing and has agreed to a settlement that would provide $7.85 million to the plaintiffs, as announced on April 29 by the Saveri Law Firm, which represents the plaintiffs, per USA Today.
There is a scheduled hearing to decide whether to approve the settlement, how to distribute funds to class members, and to consider attorneys’ fees and expenses. With Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín overseeing the case, a Fairness Hearing will be held at 2 p.m., Oct. 15, 2026.
Do You Qualify?
The settlement class includes individuals who purchased a digital game through the PlayStation Store between April 1, 2019, and Dec. 31, 2023, that was previously available through a game-specific voucher and may be eligible for a payment, according to information shared by PlayStation Network Digital Games.
If you fit the Settlement Class definition, you automatically are part of the settlement class, unless you exclude yourself by submitting a written request by July 2, 2026, per the source.
What Games Are Covered?
You can search for games that will qualify for the settlement payment here.
How Much Will You Receive?
It is unclear exactly how much will be allocated to plaintiffs from the $7.85 million settlement at this time.
When Will Payments Roll Out?
Wired reports that qualified plaintiffs would begin receiving payments a few weeks or months following the October hearing.
