Game preservation organization Stop Killing Games has joined a Dutch lawsuit targeting the PlayStation Store, alleging monopolistic practices and an exploitative "Sony Tax" on digital game purchases. The lawsuit, initially filed in 2024 by Dutch consumer group Stichting Massaschade & Consument, centers on the claim that Sony leverages its dominant position by exclusively selling digital PlayStation games through its own storefront. This complaint has gained renewed attention following Sony's reported plans to discontinue physical game sales entirely by 2028, which critics argue would eliminate the last vestige of competition for digital game pricing.
This move marks a significant expansion of Stop Killing Games' advocacy efforts. Previously focused on securing legislation for game preservation and offline playability for discontinued titles, the group has increasingly engaged in broader consumer advocacy. This includes opposing measures like the UK's proposed VPN ban and social media age verification plans. The organization's involvement in the PlayStation Store lawsuit suggests a strategic broadening of its mandate, potentially in response to setbacks in its primary preservation goals, such as the failure to secure new European Commission legislation to keep discontinued games playable offline. Similarly, a US bill backed by Stop Killing Games that would have required publishers to offer refunds or alternate versions for games on shut-down servers did not pass the Californian state senate.
Despite these challenges, Stop Killing Games has stated its continued commitment to pursuing amendments to the European Commission’s Digital Fairness Act. The group also recently criticized comments by Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick regarding game streaming as an alternative to high PC hardware prices, emphasizing that streaming models diminish player ownership of both games and the hardware they run on. The lawsuit itself reportedly prioritizes concerns over pricing and the alleged "moneygrubbing" associated with higher digital prices compared to physical retail, rather than focusing primarily on the long-term accessibility of PlayStation Store games. Consumers in the Netherlands who purchased digital games at these elevated prices are seeking refunds for the excess amount paid. The legal outcome of this case could have implications for other digital storefronts, including those operated by PC game retailers.