Sony is being sued in the Netherlands over allegations of maintaining "artificially high PlayStation prices"

The Dutch organization, Mass Damage & Consumer Foundation, also known as Stichting Massaschade & Consument, has initiated a legal challenge against Sony. The lawsuit accuses Sony of abusing its market influence.

According to the group, approximately 1.7 million PlayStation users in the Netherlands are paying excessive prices for digital games on Sony's system.

Data cited by the foundation indicates that consumers typically pay 47% higher prices for digital games compared to physical copies. Lucia Melcherts, the foundation's chair, claims consumers are being pushed toward consoles that only support digital games, particularly with the latest PS5 models (as per Google Translate).

In February, the foundation initiated its 'Fair PlayStation' initiative, arguing that Sony's significant market control and dominance over digital sales impose a 'Sony tax' on consumers. Over 2,000 messages and emails have been received by the group from PlayStation users.

The legal action centers on two main allegations: that Sony is restricting competition and exploiting customers and developers. The lawsuit began on June 24, with a preliminary hearing expected later this year.

The lawsuit centers on two allegations: that Sony restricts competition and exploits customers and developers

Sony has encountered similar legal challenges before regarding its digital platform. In August 2022, UK consumer rights advocate Alex Neill filed a lawsuit challenging Sony's 30% fee on digital sales.

In November 2023, Sony's attempt to halt the lawsuit was unsuccessful. The ongoing lawsuit has potential cost implications for Sony, with damages estimated to reach £6.3 million.

Valve is facing a similar lawsuit in the UK regarding its Steam platform, accusing Valve of hindering price competition. This lawsuit, initiated in June 2024, seeks £656 million in damages.

Apple has also come under scrutiny for its App Store practices, where it similarly takes a 30% cut from payments. In April, the European Union imposed a fine of $568.6 million (€500 million) on Apple for prohibiting apps from linking to alternative payment systems.