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The announcement that Sony will stop selling new games on discs continues to make waves. Criticism is coming not only from gamers but also from consumer rights organisations. One of them says the decision could give PlayStation full control over the pricing of digital games. The case has already gone to court in the Netherlands and involves hundreds of millions of euros in compensation. Everything suggests the conflict over PlayStation's digital future is only just beginning.
Organisation accuses Sony of creating a monopoly
Dutch foundation Stichting Massaschade & Consument, which runs the Fair PlayStation campaign, says that the move away from physical discs will completely change the games market. Its representatives claim that from 2028 players will lose the ability to buy cheaper second‑hand copies and to compare offers across different stores. In practice, the PlayStation Store would remain the only place to buy new games. According to the organisation, this would allow Sony to set prices unilaterally and decide how long users can access the products they have purchased. This is the basis for a lawsuit worth more than €400 million. The case represents the interests of around 1.7 million Dutch players. The organisation argues that fair competition cannot exist if consumers have no alternative. The plaintiffs say digital purchases also do not grant full ownership of products. Players receive only a licence, which the publisher could later restrict under the terms and conditions. These are the arguments a Dutch court is set to examine. The case could also have implications for other countries.
Sony's legal troubles are also appearing outside the Netherlands
The Dutch lawsuit isn't the only action over PlayStation Store policy. Similar cases are underway in the United States and the United Kingdom, where consumers also accuse Sony of inflating prices for digital games. The decision to stop producing discs from 2028 has only increased interest in those proceedings. Many players fear that the absence of physical releases will further reduce competition. Sony says the shift is driven by the growing popularity of digital distribution and user preferences. The company has not responded to allegations that it will have full control over pricing once the disc era ends. Final rulings in the court cases could, however, affect the future of digital game sales. Regulators may take a closer look at how the major platforms operate. For the whole industry, this could be one of the most important legal battles of the coming years.
A Dutch organisation challenging Sony says that dropping discs would give the company full control over game prices in the PlayStation Store. A lawsuit worth more than €400 million is the latest development in the growing dispute over the future of digital game distribution.
source: wccftech
