The amount claimed is five billion GBP, which is not an amount any company can quickly pay out of its pocket.

PlayStation is one of the biggest video game brands, so it’s no wonder that Sony has its digital store, the PlayStation Store. However, the value of the games and products they provide is being questioned, and consumer protection concerns have arisen. Alex Neill happens to be working in that field, and Sky News reports that Woodsford is funding the costs of the proceedings. It is a team of litigation and arbitration experts that invests in large commercial claims…

Sony has been accused of breaking competition laws by exploiting its market power to impose unfair terms on developers and publishers, who are forced to raise prices. It has been pointed out that Sony has a 30% profit margin on all digital game purchases, leading to further price increases. The claim, filed with the UK’s Competition Appeal Tribunal on Friday, says they represent anyone who has digitally bought games or add-ons, DLCs, on the PlayStation Store since 19 August 2016. On average, the people represented could expect to receive between £67 and £562 per person, excluding interest, if Sony is ordered to pay. There’s even a website: PlayStation, You Owe Us.

Neill says the action has been brought because PlayStation’s actions cost millions to those who can’t afford it and are squeezing wallets like never before. According to Natasha Pearman, the lawyer representing the case, Sony’s anti-competitive strategy has led to consumers paying far more than Sony spends to maintain its services.

But it could be pointed out that Xbox (Microsoft Store), Nintendo (Nintendo eShop) and Valve (Steam) operate similarly, so there could be more civil litigation against the major platforms. Still, the court stopped a similar case in the US, although the judge pointed out that Sony might be overpricing games sold on the PlayStation Store.

Source: WCCFTech