Sony Interactive Entertainment is once again facing legal scrutiny—this time in the Netherlands—as a Dutch consumer rights group has filed a class action lawsuit over alleged price inflation and monopolistic practices on the PlayStation Store.
The lawsuit, filed by the Massaschade & Consument Foundation under the “Fair PlayStation” campaign, accuses Sony of abusing its dominant market position to overcharge consumers and limit competition. The foundation estimates that over 1.7 million Dutch consumers may have been impacted, potentially costing the public around €435 million ($505 million) since 2013.
💼 A Longstanding Controversy
Sony is no stranger to these allegations. Back in 2022, a £5 billion class-action lawsuit was filed in the UK, claiming Sony enforced restrictive digital sales policies that violated competition laws. That case is heading to trial in 2026.
The Dutch lawsuit, filed earlier in 2025, builds on the UK case but focuses on the Netherlands, where PlayStation commands 80% of the console market. The legal team argues that this dominance allows Sony to implement digital pricing strategies that hurt consumers.
🧾 Allegations and Evidence
According to the foundation and cited economic research, digital games on the PlayStation Store cost 47% more on average than physical versions, despite having lower distribution costs. The lawsuit also highlights Sony’s refusal to allow third-party storefronts on PlayStation, effectively locking users into its ecosystem.
Sony’s move toward digital-only consoles, like the PS5 Digital Edition, further restricts consumer choice and strengthens its control over pricing and distribution.
📈 The “Sony Tax”
The foundation refers to the situation as a “Sony Tax”, where consumers are effectively forced to pay more for digital content due to the lack of competition. Sony’s 30% commission on all digital sales through the PlayStation Store is a key factor, and critics argue that this fee is passed directly to consumers in the form of higher prices.
Recent price hikes for the PS5 in multiple regions have only added fuel to the fire, with Sony citing inflation and currency issues—yet critics claim it demonstrates how much unilateral control the company holds in the market.
The Massaschade & Consument Foundation hopes that the Dutch court will force Sony to reform its digital ecosystem, allowing alternative sellers and enabling fairer pricing for consumers. A successful ruling could have major implications for the gaming industry, especially in how digital storefronts are regulated.
As of now, Sony has not publicly commented on the case. But with legal pressure mounting in both the UK and the Netherlands, the company could be forced to rethink how it operates its digital sales platform in Europe and beyond.