Sony is dealing with a lawsuit in the Netherlands concerning allegations of "artificially high PlayStation prices"

The Dutch organization Mass Damage & Consumer Foundation has initiated a lawsuit against Sony, alleging that the company has abused its market power. This lawsuit, a collective action, claims that Sony's practices have led to overpricing for digital games among approximately 1.7 million PlayStation users in the Netherlands.

According to the foundation, research indicates digital game prices are about 47% higher than their physical counterparts. Lucia Melcherts, the foundation's chair, reportedly stated via Google Translate that the trend towards 'digital-only' consoles, particularly with the PS5, contributes to this issue.

The group's 'Fair PlayStation' campaign, which started in February, argues that Sony's significant market presence effectively imposes a 'Sony tax' on digital transactions. To date, this initiative has garnered over 2,000 responses from PlayStation users.

The lawsuit primarily accuses Sony of stifling competition and exploiting both consumers and game developers. This legal action was formalized on June 24, with a court hearing anticipated later in the year.

The main allegations against Sony involve limiting competition and exploiting consumers and developers

This is not the first encounter Sony has had with legal challenges regarding its digital marketplace. In the UK, Alex Neill, a consumer rights specialist, previously filed a lawsuit targeting Sony's 30% cut from digital sales in August 2022. Sony's attempt to dismiss the case was unsuccessful in November 2023, and the legal proceedings continue, with potential damages reaching £6.3 million.

Meanwhile, Valve is dealing with a parallel lawsuit related to its Steam service in the UK, where it stands accused of impeding price competition, seeking £656 million in compensation. Additionally, Apple was fined by the European Union for around $568.6 million in April for disallowing third-party payment references within its App Store, similar to Sony's practices.