Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Wales Online
Wales Online
World
Levi Winchester & Kirstie McCrum

PlayStation being sued for £5billion that could pay console owners ‘up to £560 each’

Playstation is facing legal action which could net millions of console owners a share of up to £5billion. The lawsuit accuses Sony of “ripping off” customers.

The legal action argues that Sony breached competition law and abused its market position. If successful, around 8.9 million customers could get between £67 and £562 in damages, excluding interest.

In the claim, it is alleged that Sony sold 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, MirrorOnline reports.

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 a 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, August 19.

"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.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.