Sony Interactive Entertainment receives Choice Shonky Award

Sony Interactive Entertainment has been awarded the 2026 Shonky Award, a negative accolade from the Australian consumer advocacy group Choice. The organization cited concerns regarding digital ownership policies and the planned cessation of physical game disc production by January 2028.

Choice CEO Monique Perry criticized the company for requiring payments without granting true ownership, noting that consumers essentially purchase a revocable license to access content. The group highlighted an incident where over 500 Studio Canal films and series were removed from user libraries in Europe and the UK following the expiration of licensing agreements, leaving purchasers without access or refunds.

Other winners of the annual awards included Hisense, Ticketmaster, Ticketek, Virgin Australia, and Quest, following various complaints regarding energy efficiency claims, ticket pricing, expired flight credits, and product pricing.