Sony sued for £5bn for "ripping people off" on PlayStation Store

[The Mad Titan]

Sony is being sued for £5bn, accused of "ripping people off" on its online store.

The legal claim is led by ex-managing director of Which UK Alex Neill and was filed with the Competition Appeal Tribunal last week.

It claims by charging a 30 percent commission on digital games and in-game purchases on the PlayStation Store, Sony is in breach of competition law.

Sony is accused of abusing market power by imposing unfair terms and conditions on game developers and publishers, forcing prices up for consumers, reports Sky News.

The legal action states consumers have been overcharged by as much as £5bn. Anyone in the UK who has purchased content on the store since 19th August 2016 is included in the claim and is potentially entitled to compensation - said to be nine million people.

This would put estimated damages per claimant at between £67 and £562, excluding interest.

The 30 percent cut from Sony is an industry standard, in-line with other games companies like Microsoft, Steam, and the App Store. It's unclear why exactly Sony is the sole target of this claim.

"The game is up for Sony PlayStation," said Alex Neill.

"With this legal action I am standing up for the millions of UK people who have been unwittingly overcharged. We believe Sony has abused its position and ripped off its customers.

"Gaming is now the biggest entertainment industry in the UK, ahead of TV, video and music and many vulnerable people rely on gaming for community and connection. The actions of Sony is costing millions of people who can't afford it, particularly when we're in the midst of a cost of living crisis and the consumer purse is being squeezed like never before."

The website PlayStation You Owe Us has also been set up to campaign against Sony.

Eurogamer has contacted Sony for comment.

 

[Grand Conde]

What is your opinion OP?

 

[Kamikaze Revy]

The 30 percent cut from Sony is an industry standard, in-line with other games companies like Microsoft, Steam, and the App Store. It's unclear why exactly Sony is the sole target of this claim.

Apparently the law suit is being spear headed by @The Mad Titan , that’s why.

 

[Rekkapryde]

XBots stay worried about what Playstation doing

 

[Grand Conde]

I guess we'll be waiting for @The Mad Titan to explain what the deal is and why we should be outraged.

 

[Rekkapryde]

I guess we'll be waiting for @The Mad Titan to explain what the deal is and why we should be outraged.

I kinda miss the Titangraphs at this point

 

[The Mad Titan]

I guess we'll be waiting for @The Mad Titan to explain what the deal is and why we should be outraged.

I'm just reporting the news. Make of it what you will

 

[Gizmo_Duck]

the funny thing about this story is sony also has to pay the 70/30 split when they put their games on epic and steam

 

[levitate]

“The 30 percent cut from Sony is an industry standard, in-line with other games companies like Microsoft, Steam, and the App Store. It's unclear why exactly Sony is the sole target of this claim.”

Just some trash ass dude looking for a come up…

 

[B86]

I just always laughed at those “sales” Sony be having. I always thought they were taxing. Old ass digital games always cost way more than they should at all times, including their “sales”

 

[Cryptocurrency Scarface]

I bought from the PlayStation UK how do I claim?

 

[CoolinInTheCut]

What is your opinion OP?

@The Mad Titan:

 

[daze23]

I blame Tim Sweeney

 

[Leasy]

This shyt might hold water. I am telling you those reports from the Apple battle with Epic to Microsoft Activision deal put too much business out.

 

[Animal House]

Greedy as fukk