Overview
- Sony reached a preliminary $7.85 million settlement in a U.S. class action that challenged how certain digital games were sold on the PlayStation Store.
- The settlement covers select purchases made between April 1, 2019 and December 31, 2023 for games that moved from retail vouchers to digital-only and rose in price by at least 50 cents after that switch.
- Eligible users are set to receive automatic refunds to their PlayStation Network wallets, and individual payments are expected to be small because many people qualify.
- Class counsel plans to seek up to 25% of the fund for fees and costs, and the court set a final approval hearing for October 15 with a July 2 deadline to opt out.
- The dispute unfolds as broader challenges to Sony’s 30% store fee continue, including a live $2.6 billion UK case and a U.S. court finding that suggested $7.8 billion in potential damages, while Sony denies wrongdoing.