Sony Hit with Class Action Lawsuit Over High Digital Game Prices — Allegations of ‘Sony Tax’ Claim Digital Games Average 47% More Than Physical Copies

Okay, so let’s dive right in—picture this: a bunch of Dutch PlayStation fans, totally fed up, are throwing down the gauntlet against Sony. Why? Well, they’re sick of what they call the “Sony tax.” Feels like a drama, right? Today, they took it up a notch with a class action suit. Basically, they’re saying Sony’s being a bully by making digital games pricier (47% more, ouch!) than those old-school discs. Weird, right? Like, what’s the point of digital if not for saving some bucks?

And let’s talk monopoly. These gamers did their homework. Turns out, Sony’s been strutting around, calling the shots for a decade or so. And by blocking other app stores—honestly, that’s just them being greedy. Now, they say about 1.7 million Dutch players are overpaying. Since 2013, folks over there have coughed up a whopping €435 million more than necessary. Gosh, that’s like swimming in dollar bills and then some.

But hey, no matter where you hang your hat, PlayStation 5 games aren’t cheap. They hit the shelves in the U.S. at $69.99 a pop. Sony’s pulling the strings on their online store prices, while the physical game sellers are out there hustlin’ for sales—slashing prices in a mad dash to grab buyers. It’s tough for those sellers, y’know? The whole playing field’s getting uneven thanks to those digital-only consoles.

Now, Lucia Melcherts, she’s leading the charge with the ‘Fair PlayStation’ crew. She’s got a bone to pick with Sony. Her point? People drop big bucks on gaming and Sony’s making it worse by jacking up prices without even blinking. Feels like they’re slowly cranking up the heat—like that boiling frog metaphor. Especially when they bumped up prices just last spring. Bold move, Sony.

Looking at how Sony pulls this off, it screams “we’re boss here.” Melcherts is saying they’re rolling in cash, deciding prices without breaking a sweat about competition or player opinions. Didn’t those digital consoles promise cheaper content? Yet here we are, locked into these gated systems.

To wrap it up—essentially, this ‘Fair PlayStation’ group is calling Sony out. They’re pocketing crazy profits from digital sales—cornering 80% of the Dutch console scene—and throwing up roadblocks for competition. And this doesn’t just strangle gamers but developers too.

First courtroom pow-wow’s booked for sometime in 2025. The dream? That Dutch judges see their way and kick open Sony’s walled garden for more providers. Let’s wait and see if David can beat Goliath this time.