Sony has reached a settlement with the class-action group concerning game price hikes. The lawsuit had alleged that Sony violated federal and state laws regarding digital games. After Sony's motion to dismiss the lawsuit was denied, both parties reached a settlement, with Sony agreeing to pay nearly $8 million.
Under the agreement, eligible members of the settlement class may receive compensation over a period spanning more than four years.
The lawsuit was initially filed in 2024, alleging that Sony monopolized prices on the PlayStation Store by requiring publishers to "cede control of final pricing to Sony," and that Sony "eliminated the last traces of price competition by ceasing to allow external retailers to sell digital download codes redeemable on the PlayStation Store."
As part of the settlement agreement, Sony did not admit to any wrongdoing. If the court approves the settlement terms, Sony will avoid a civil trial. Once the settlement is reached, the claims against Sony will be dismissed "with prejudice," meaning no further lawsuits can be filed regarding this matter.
If you purchased one of the affected games through the PlayStation Store between April 1, 2019, and December 31, 2023, you may be eligible for compensation.
Dozens of games were listed in the official court documents, including NieR: Automata, Resident Evil 4 Remake, The Last of Us Remastered, as well as PS Vita titles such as Uncharted: Golden Abyss and Killzone: Mercenary.