Sony in the crosshairs: The Netherlands accuses PlayStation of monopoly and overpricing games in the PS Store
This time, Sony is in the dock, accused of "abusing its dominant position in the console market" and artificially inflating software prices in the PS Store. The class action lawsuit filed in the Netherlands by the non-profit organisation Stichting Massaschade Consument claims to act on behalf of 1.7 million Dutch players.
Here's What We Know
Essentially, the lawsuit claims that with the PS5 generation, the Japanese giant is pushing players into a digital-only ecosystem where it has a monopoly on software sales through the PS Store. It is worth noting that although consoles without a disc drive have become more common over the past few years, it is still possible to purchase a PS5 with a disc drive.
Lucia Melcherts, chairman of the Stichting Massaschade Consument, said: "Many people have noticed that they are increasingly being pushed towards 'digital-only' consoles since the launch of the latest generation PS5. These consoles work exclusively with digital games rather than physical discs. However, economic studies show that consumers pay 47% more on average for a digital version of a game compared to an identical physical copy - even though Sony's distribution costs are significantly lower."
Melcherts added that "more than 80% of Dutch console owners use PlayStation, so Sony is free to make decisions with little regard for competitors, developers or consumers".
In addition to the impact on consumers, the lawsuit claims that Sony's closed ecosystem limits the commercial freedom of developers. As far as we understand, indie developers and third-party publishers are free to set prices for their products, although planned discounts must be coordinated with PS Store promotions.
In any case, the Stichting Massaschade Consument is seeking damages in the Netherlands of up to €435 million (~$508 million), with the first hearing due later this month.
Source: Eurogamer
