Sony faces a case brought at London's Competition Appeal Tribunal on behalf of around 12 million people in the United Kingdom, with the claim valued at 1.97 billion pounds. The PlayStation Store is the official digital platform where gamers can buy Sony classics like "Gran Turismo" and "God of War", as well as blockbuster titles like "Call of Duty", "GTA" and "Assassin's Creed" from other studios.
The core allegation is straightforward: Sony abused its dominant market position by forcing all digital purchases on PlayStation consoles to go through the PlayStation Store, preventing meaningful competition. Consumer campaigner Alex Neill, who brought the action on behalf of an estimated 12.2 million users, said "Sony have abused that position by charging consumers too much money".
According to the claimants, the game "Assassin's Creed Shadows" is listed for nearly £70 on the PlayStation Store, roughly double the price of the physical edition sold at UK retailer Curry's, and the lawsuit argues that Sony charges a 30% commission on digital sales, while PC game distribution platforms that face stronger competition often charge lower fees.
The legal argument rests on a distinction that matters for competition law: the claimants treat PlayStation digital distribution as a separate market from physical games or other consoles. Robert Palmer KC told the tribunal Sony had "implemented a sustained strategy" to exclude competition over digital distribution "by monopolising their sale through the PlayStation store," and that developers must sign contracts agreeing that content "won't be distributed outside the official shop without Sony's consent".
Sony's Defence
Sony's counter-argument centres on ecosystem thinking. The company said it has "invested years and billions" building an integrated gaming platform that benefits consumers and argues that competitors such as Nintendo and Microsoft operate similar digital storefront models. The company argues that limiting distribution to the PlayStation Store reduces fraud, safeguards player data, and ensures game integrity.
Sony also says that commission revenue helps fund platform operations and offsets slim hardware margins, a dynamic familiar in console economics where manufacturers often price consoles aggressively and recoup costs through software and services.
On pricing specifically, the company argued that the broader pricing picture changes once the full console ecosystem is considered. If you factor in the hardware subsidy, Sony contends, digital game prices are competitive with what appears on other platforms.
The Broader Context
This UK action arrives amid mounting global scrutiny of gatekeeper platforms: the EU's Digital Markets Act has forced Apple to enable alternative distribution paths for iOS, and the Competition Appeal Tribunal has allowed collective proceedings concerning Apple's App Store to advance, and a separate case targeting Valve's Steam marketplace has been cleared to proceed as well. Natasha Pearman, a partner at Milberg London, one of the claimants' lawyers, said "We're aware of other cases that are being pursued," including in Australia, the Netherlands and Portugal.
The trial itself is expected to last around 10 weeks, with a ruling potentially coming later in 2026. Anyone who bought digital games or DLC on PlayStation in the UK during the relevant timeframe is automatically included unless they choose to withdraw.
The real question is whether competition law should treat a closed digital storefront as a separate market where the console maker holds unchallenged power, or whether broader competition between gaming platforms suffices to regulate prices. The lawsuit touches on a growing tension between massive tech platforms and regulatory bodies tasked with protecting consumer interests; regulators are increasingly skeptical of walled gardens that prevent third party payment systems or alternative storefronts from operating on proprietary hardware.