Sony criticized for non-transparent pricing in PlayStation Store. This may violate EU laws

PlayStation users have noticed that prices for the same games in the PS Store can differ. This has sparked discussion about the possible use of personalized or segmented pricing. Sony has not explained how this mechanism works.

The Danish publication Arkaden consulted legal experts, and in their opinion, Sony's lack of transparency may contradict EU Directive 2011/83/EU. According to this directive, if personalized prices are applied, the user must be clearly informed about it.

The situation is not straightforward. Sony may argue that it is not about personalization, but about testing or segmenting users into groups. However, even in this case, the player should understand why they see a specific price and whether it differs from offers for other users.

Professor Jan Trzaskowski from Aalborg University stated that the essence of the problem is simple: the customer receives a price depending on who they are or to which group they are assigned. According to him, it does not matter whether this is related to tracking or segmentation.

Experts also refer to Directive 2005/29/EC on unfair commercial practices. If a company conceals important information that influences a purchasing decision, this may be considered a misleading practice.

At the same time, the use of personalized offers itself is not prohibited. The key complaint against Sony is the lack of a clear explanation.

If the case goes to court, it could become one of the first serious tests of new rules for the gaming industry. The financial consequences for Sony may be small, but the reputational risks appear significantly higher.