A Dutch consumer advocacy group, Stichting Massaschade & Consument (SM&C), has intensified its legal challenge against Sony, asserting that the impending discontinuation of physical PlayStation game discs by 2028 bolsters its case. The group is pursuing a €400 million ($457 million) lawsuit over the 30% commission Sony charges on digital game sales through the PlayStation Store, a fee SM&C refers to as a "Sony tax" not applied to physical retail copies.
SM&C chair Lucia Melcherts stated that the cessation of physical disc production removes a crucial avenue for competitive pricing and consumer choice. "No discs means no second-hand market and no alternative to the PlayStation Store," Melcherts explained, arguing that this will leave Sony as the sole arbiter of game prices and usage duration from 2028. The organization contends that this lack of ownership and alternatives renders game pricing inherently unfair, forming the core of their "Fair PlayStation" claim.
This situation draws parallels to antitrust actions faced by other major tech platforms, such as Epic Games' challenges against Apple's App Store policies and lawsuits targeting Valve's Steam platform. While Apple, which operates a similar integrated hardware and storefront model, has been compelled to cede some control over its ecosystem, PC gaming on platforms like Steam offers greater flexibility. Unlike consoles, PCs allow for alternative operating systems, competing storefronts, and the continued use of physical media, even with platforms like the Steam Deck.
Sony's PlayStation division reported revenues of ¥4.69 trillion ($29 billion) in 2025, according to Tweaktown. Despite this significant financial performance, the $427 million lawsuit, along with potential future challenges to its digital storefront policies, suggests that Sony may need to adapt its approach to consumer access and pricing.