Sony is set to possibly face legal troubles, regarding how it handles digital game sales. A class-action lawsuit is in the process of being filed, attempting to take action against Sony's alleged monopoly over digital game sales on its platform. In 2019, the company stopped allowing retailers to sell digital vouchers of PlayStation Store titles, and according to the lawsuit, this means Sony can charge whatever it pleases for its games, potentially hurting consumers due to a lack of market competition.

Sony's monopoly allows it to charge supracompetitive prices for digital PlayStation games, which are significantly higher than their physical counterparts sold in a competitive retail market, and significantly higher than they would be in a competitive retail market for digital games.

The suit also alleges that there have been instances where consumers have had to pay 175% more for a digital copy than a physical one. For right now, the class-action lawsuit is only being proposed, and if it moves forward, it'll be filed in San Francisco, California, under the case of Caccuri v. Sony Interactive Entertainment, in the US District Court of Northern California.

Source: Bloomberg

 

[sorabora]

I’d love to see the caselaw they’re going to cite for this cause of action.

I have a hard time seeing this being successful.

 

[Fugelmir]

10 dollars for dragon quest builders 2 at Walmart. 50 dollars on psn. Glad I didn't get the digital edition ps5.

 

[Deleted member 514389]

*Pours tea*
Ah yes, *adjust monocle*, time for my weekly "Sony $uck$ newsfeed, ah very good"

 

[Localhorst86]

suing simulator? THAT'S MY IDEA!

im suing you..

I am going to sue both of you. I am already filing my paperwork with my lawyer, @Ericzander

 

[D34DL1N3R]

10 dollars for dragon quest builders 2 at Walmart. 50 dollars on psn. Glad I didn't get the digital edition ps5.

Great. I have a disc PS5 as well, but there are also instances in which a physical copy of a rare game can cost hundreds (or thousands) & the digital copy on PSN is $5 bucks. There's also PSN sales all the time and I've gotten tons of games for less than a used hard copy would have cost. Tons.

 

[MasterJ360]

Yeah their sales just dont make any sense either unless its a seasonal or game company deals. You'll see games from 2017-2018 still at $60 while a 1yr old game gets a discount. Digital ps5 owners are screwed- imagine not being able to buy cheaper used games.

 

[D34DL1N3R]

Yeah their sales just dont make any sense either unless its a seasonal or game company deals. You'll see games from 2017-2018 still at $60 while a 1yr old game gets a discount. Digital ps5 owners are screwed- imagine not being able to buy cheaper used games.

As I've stated above, I've bought TONS of games on PSN for less than a used physical copy.

 

[cearp]

So are we going to be able to buy PS5 games on the Nintendo online store lol?

 

[spotanjo3]

Money lovers obviously!

 

[SG854]

Sony is in the wrong here, even if they're following the status quo. You can go to any video game store and buy a digital copy of a video game in the form of a code receipt - this is applicable to Microsoft, Nintendo and, until recently, Sony. I've never seen it as advantageous as the prices usually stick to the original MSRP, but it does preclude game stores from selling digital copies of titles that they used to be able to sell. As far as I'm concerned there should be no difference between selling physical copies and digital codes - software is software, the method of obtaining it should be immaterial. If I have a valid code for a software download, I should be able to sell said code to another user if I so choose. The legal kerfuffle here is licensing - it is unclear if I hold a license for the software prior to redeeming the code. Technically I don't - I get to agree to the software license at the point of redemption. With that said, that should make Sony even more removed from the transaction - if this is the case, I'm selling a piece of paper with a number on it, it just so happens that the number is active on their network and leads to a copy of software.

Maybe block chain?

 

[Jayro]

This makes no sense... It's like a car dealership was being sued for selling their own brand of cars. This is madness.

 

[Flame]

So are we going to be able to buy PS5 games on the Nintendo online store lol?

This makes no sense... It's like a car dealership was being sued for selling their own brand of cars. This is madness.

i think you both misunderstood

i quote:-

"digital PlayStation games, which are significantly higher than their physical counterparts sold in a competitive retail market"

its about money.

 

[Jayro]

i think you both misunderstood

i quote:-

"digital PlayStation games, which are significantly higher than their physical counterparts sold in a competitive retail market"

its about money.

So they're selling the games digitally for too much?

 

[Flame]

So they're selling the games digitally for too much?

too less compared to physical.

my cutting of the quote could have been better.

 

[Jayro]

too less compared to physical.

my cutting of the quote could have been better.

This whole thread reads like lawyer speak to me, lol.

 

[OblivionReign]

Honestly this really doesn't make sense for a litigation case... they aren't obligated to sell the voucher codes to retailers... heck they are lucky that they receive physical copies of games with how the digital age is being pushed so hard. A digital storefront is a digital storefront for a reason.

 

[chrisrlink]

in all seriousness can anyone name 1 game above MSRP on SEN? if anything the feds should be suing sony/MS/Nintendo over not taxing their digital goods like how ebay and them got slammed

 

[cearp]

i think you both misunderstood

yeah I was being a littler humorous I think I get it

So they're selling the games digitally for too much?

the problem is that you can only buy digital games through sony/psn themselves (apparently)
unlike nintendo where you can buy digital games from other places - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08VPR4K97

 

[sloppycrap]

This looks like Sony being sued because they won't allow someone like GameStop to sell codes for games on PSN.

So, like, the only place you can buy legit games for your discless ps5 is Sony. I'd be pissed about that if I was anyone other than Sony, too.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

I say good big Corps think they can do what they want especially when it comes to digital

I only play analog video games.

 

[Deleted User]

in all seriousness can anyone name 1 game above MSRP on SEN? if anything the feds should be suing sony/MS/Nintendo over not taxing their digital goods like how ebay and them got slammed

you live in an area where nintendo doesn't add taxes on top of overpriced games? i'm jealous