PlayStation Faces An $8 Billion Lawsuit For Its Online Store Practices

PlayStation, one of if not the most proactive platforms in the industry when pitted against Nintendo & Xbox, is the only firm that does not offer digital purchases outside of its storefront. Yes, the PlayStation Store remains the only portal to buy games aside from physical purchases at retail. And this has remained for years whilst its competitors entertain retail digital purchases. What makes this very significant is the amount Sony takes in fees with purchases solely through the PlayStation Store.

In the past, we’ve witnessed a campaign of independent developer advocate against the company with its absorbent process to get a game live on its platform digitally. From high-priced charges & premiums to the commission for each transaction, it is a large chunk that leaves developers upset. And while the firm did launch new initiatives like ‘PlayStation Indies’ program to loan hardware for small studios, it never addressed the complaints concerning the PlayStation Store.

According to a new report from Reuters recently, Sony is to face a new lawsuit thanks to the growing complaints pertaining to the 30 percent commission on digital purchases through the PlayStation Store. Spearheaded by consumer advocate Alex Neill, the lawsuit is part of a case made last year attaching roughly 9 million U.K. players which accumulated £6.3 billion ($7.9 billion).

Similarly, we’ve seen retaliation against storefronts in the past with the Apple v. Epic Games case. In that, the suit surrounded Epic Games decision to lower the price of V-Bucks to counteract against the 30 percent charge through Apple’s digital store which got the game removed. Even Microsoft went the extra mile to launch its own Xbox Cloud Gaming though browser to avoid this issue as well.

On the topic of Xbox & its digital store, Microsoft in a document back in 2021 shares that its take in consumer purchases has actually been lowered to only 12 percent. Compared to Apple and even PlayStation asking for 30 percent, it’s reasonable. You can read the full report by heading here.

Are you behind the new PlayStation Store lawsuit or no?

Source: Reuters