Miscalculated, but where: abandoning discs resulted in a €400 million lawsuit for Sony

As it turned out, people don't like monopolies and love going to court.

In the Netherlands, the Fair PlayStation case, initiated by the organization Stichting Massaschade & Consument, is gaining momentum. After the initial court hearings, the organization continues to seek over €400 million in compensation on behalf of approximately 1.7 million Dutch PlayStation users. The plaintiffs believe that Sony charges an unreasonable "Sony surcharge" due to the lack of competition in the digital store.

Stichting Massaschade & Consument Chairwoman Lucia Melcherts stated in a comment to journalists that the abandonment of physical discs only exacerbates the problem.

According to her, the disappearance of discs will deprive players of the last opportunity to buy and resell games at competitive prices. After 2028, Melcherts believes, Sony will become the sole party determining the cost of games and even the duration of access to purchased digital content. She emphasized that the Fair PlayStation lawsuit is directed precisely against this model, as, in the organization's opinion, the price cannot be considered fair if the buyer does not receive full ownership rights and has no alternative ways of acquisition.

Thus, Sony's decision to switch to a fully digital sales model not only intensified discontent among PlayStation fans but also became an additional argument for consumer organizations and lawyers who believe that the company is gaining excessive control over the digital game distribution market.