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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Business
Levi Winchester

Millions of PlayStation owners could be owed ‘up to £560 each’ as Sony sued for £5billion

Millions of PlayStation owners could be in line for a share of up to £5billion after Sony was accused of “ripping off” customers.

The collective action argues that Sony breached competition law and abused its market position.

If successful, some 8.9million customers could get between £67 and £562 in damages, excluding interest.

The claim accuses Sony of selling overpriced digital games and in-game purchases - meaning customers potentially paid more than they should have.

It argues that the gaming giant charged a 30% commission on every digital game or in-game purchase made through the online PlayStation Store.

This then fed down into how much customers paid for games, according to consumer rights champion Alex Neill, who is leading the claim.

Sony has yet to respond to the accusations.

Anyone in the UK who has purchased digital games or add-on content on their console or via the PlayStation Store since August 19, 2016, is automatically included in the claim.

You don’t need to sign up to be entitled to share of the compensation, should the claim go on to be successful.

You can sign up to www.playstationyouoweus.co.uk to be kept up to date on the case.

"The game is up for Sony PlayStation," Ms Neill said, who filed the claim against Sony Playstation on Friday.

"With this legal action, I am standing up for the millions of UK people who have been unwittingly overcharged. We believe Sony has abused its position and ripped off its customers.

"Gaming is now the biggest entertainment industry in the UK, ahead of TV, video and music, and many vulnerable people rely on gaming for community and connection.

"The actions of Sony are costing millions of people who can't afford it, particularly when we're in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis and the consumer purse is being squeezed like never before."

Alex Neill is advised by law firm, Milberg London LLP. The partner leading the case is Natasha Pearman.

Ms Pearman said: “Sony dominates the digital distribution of PlayStation games and in-game content; it has deployed an anti-competitive strategy which has resulted in excessive prices to customers that are out of all proportion to the costs of Sony providing its services.

“This claim is only possible because of the opt-out collective action regime that was introduced by the Consumer Rights Act 2015; a regime that Alex fought to introduce.

“We are looking forward to working with Alex and making sure that the regime achieves its aims of protecting and compensating consumers.”

Sony PlayStation has been contacted by The Mirror for comment.

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