Sony to pay $7.85 million in PlayStation antitrust settlement

Sony Interactive Entertainment has agreed to a $7.85 million settlement to resolve a class-action lawsuit, Caccuri v. Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC, involving millions of PlayStation users in the United States. The litigation alleged that Sony engaged in anticompetitive practices by halting the sale of game-specific digital vouchers through third-party retailers like Amazon and GameStop in 2019, effectively forcing consumers to purchase games directly through the PlayStation Store and potentially inflating prices.

Sony denies any wrongdoing or violation of antitrust laws, maintaining that the settlement is intended to resolve the dispute without further litigation. The settlement specifically addresses purchases made between April 1, 2019, and December 31, 2023. Eligible US residents who purchased qualifying digital games may receive compensation in the form of PlayStation Network (PSN) account credits.

A final fairness hearing is scheduled for October 15, 2026, before Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín in the US District Court for the Northern District of California. The court will determine whether to grant final approval to the settlement. Additionally, legal proceedings continue regarding the transparency of digital game licenses, with Sony asserting that customers purchase a license to access content rather than full ownership of the digital products.