Sony is set to pay out $7.85 million to PlayStation users as part of a preliminary class-action lawsuit settlement. The lawsuit, Caccuri v. Sony Interactive Entertainment, alleged that the company violated antitrust laws by removing digital game vouchers from third-party retailers. This action, according to the suit, forced consumers to pay higher prices for digital titles purchased directly from the PlayStation Store.
The lawsuit further contends that this practice intensified as Sony moved away from physical media, with plans to exit the market entirely in 2028. Plaintiffs argue that the elimination of third-party voucher options restricted consumer choice and drove up costs for digital game purchases. Sony has maintained that it did not engage in wrongdoing and that consumers were not harmed by its actions. The court has not yet made a final determination on whether Sony violated any laws.
A final approval hearing for the settlement is scheduled for October 15. At this hearing, the court will determine the final payout amount, the distribution method for the funds, and approve attorney fees. Eligible users must be United States citizens who purchased a qualifying digital game from the PlayStation Store between April 1, 2019, and December 31, 2023.
PlayStation will reportedly deposit settlement funds directly into eligible users' PSN accounts. Those who have deactivated their PSN accounts can request a cash payment by submitting their purchase history to [email protected]. It remains unclear whether users with active PSN accounts can opt for a cash payment instead of an account deposit. Purchase history can be viewed on PlayStation's website for those needing to document their transactions.
The exact amount each individual will receive is not yet known and will depend on the total number of eligible claims. The settlement details indicate that the distribution could result in payments ranging from a few dollars to several dozen dollars per user. This development occurs amidst ongoing discussions about digital ownership, following a separate instance where PlayStation acknowledged that players do not own their digital game purchases, a point often obscured by the use of the term 'license' in user agreements.