Sony Sued in Five Countries. Gamers Rebel Against Disk Abandonment

Sony Interactive Entertainment is facing pressure in several countries. The company is accused of anti-competitive practices and abusing its dominant market position.

Lawsuits and official complaints against Sony Interactive Entertainment have been filed in the USA, UK, Netherlands, Portugal, and Mexico. Previously, the claims concerned restrictions on the sale of digital codes by third-party sellers and a 30% commission in the PlayStation Store. Now, a new phase of the conflict is related to plans for a complete abandonment of physical game editions.

Plaintiffs argue that Sony has created a closed ecosystem where PlayStation owners have no alternatives. According to lawyers, the lack of competition allows the company to set higher prices for digital versions of games.

Sony stated that it competes with Xbox and Nintendo in the overall market, but opponents believe that within the platform, the company has effectively gained a monopoly.

Plans to eliminate disc versions by 2028 caused particular outrage. Lawyers believe this will destroy the used game market and independent stores, depriving players of the ability to resell, trade, and buy games cheaper.

The scale of the claims is enormous: in the UK, the dispute is estimated at almost $8 billion, and in the Netherlands, compensation could reach $500 million. Even if the company in the USA decided to reach an agreement with affected players for several million dollars, subsequent lawsuits in Europe and Latin America will enter a decisive phase.