A360
Key Takeaways✦ Atlas AI
01
Sony pays $7.85 million settlement.
02
Antitrust suit over digital game sales.
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Payouts expected by late 2026.
Atlas AI
Sony has received preliminary court approval for a $7.85 million class-action settlement in a U.S. antitrust case alleging the company restricted competition in digital PlayStation game sales.
The case, filed in the San Francisco division of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, alleges Sony limited third-party retailers from selling PlayStation titles through “game-specific vouchers.” Plaintiffs say the practice steered customers to buy digital games only through the PlayStation Network (PSN), allowing Sony to control pricing without competing retailers.
Sony does not admit wrongdoing under the proposed settlement.
Who may be eligible
The settlement would cover consumers who purchased digital games through the PlayStation Network between April 1, 2019, and Dec. 31, 2023.
How payments would be distributed
If the settlement receives final approval, funds are expected to be deposited into the payment accounts linked to eligible PSN profiles.
Consumers may opt out of the settlement or object by submitting a written request.
Timeline and potential payout size
The settlement was initially reached in 2024 but was rejected twice during the approval process before the judge’s recent preliminary approval.
A fairness hearing is scheduled for Oct. 15, 2026. If the settlement is finalized, payouts would likely follow weeks or months later.
Individual payments are expected to be small—potentially only a few dollars—because the settlement amount may be divided among a large number of claimants and legal fees.
