According to new reports, Sony PlayStation might have to compensate its players up to $7.8 million. This comes years after a law firm filed a case against the gaming giant, alleging it had monopolized the gaming market.
Sony might have to pay $7.8 million to PlayStation 5 users in lawsuit settlement
Some Sony PlayStation users reportedly may be eligible for compensation under a proposed class-action settlement regarding digital game prices (via PR Newswire). The case is still pending before the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.
The lawsuit (Caccuri, et al. v. Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC) alleges that Sony violated federal antitrust and state laws by unfairly controlling the market for games sold on the PlayStation Store. According to Agustin Caccuri (the plaintiff), the reduced competition led to higher prices for certain digital games. However, Sony has denied all the claims, and the court has yet to make its final verdict.
Currently, the court has given preliminary approval to a $7.85 million settlement. If ruled against Sony, the company will have to pay the amount to any eligible users. These eligible users are individuals who have purchased one or more digital games between April 1, 2019, and December 31, 2023, through the PlayStation Store that were previously available via a Game-Specific Voucher (GSV).
For the uninitiated, a GSV refers to a physical or digital code sold through third-party retailers that allows users to download a specific game.
According to the filing, the settlement amount will be distributed to players’ PlayStation Network (PSN) accounts. If the eligible player has an active PSN account, the settlement amount will be credited directly to it. Since Sony can identify all affected individuals, users don’t have to submit a claim manually. Reportedly, over 4.4 million users are eligible for the claim.
While the proposed settlement amount is $7.8 million, the court has the ultimate say on the final amount. A Fairness Hearing will take place on October 15, 2026. The court will determine whether to grant final approval of the Settlement.
