Sony Hit with Class Action Over High Digital Game and DLC Prices: Group Claims Digital Versions Cost ‘47% More’ Than Discs

Sure, let me have a go at this.

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Okay, so here’s the thing: PlayStation fans in the Netherlands? They’re pretty ticked off. Like, really. It’s basically all about what they’re calling a ‘Sony tax,’ which sounds like something out of a dystopian novel, but it’s just their way of saying “Hey, we think we’re getting ripped off!” There’s this whole class action lawsuit happening now, with the ‘Fair PlayStation’ group leading the charge. They’re out there saying, “Look, we’re paying, like, 47% more for digital games compared to the good old fashioned discs.” Crazy, right?

Apparently, this Dutch group’s been doing some digging and they’re like, “Sony’s been playing this game for a decade, using their console power to block other stores.” Reminds me of that time I tried to make a sandwich, but was out of bread.

Anyway, they found that around 1.7 million Dutchies with PlayStations are shelling out way more than they should. Can you imagine being €435 million lighter since 2013? You could probably buy a small island with that. Or at least a lot of bread.

And it’s not just a Dutch thing. I mean, everywhere – take the U.S., for example – you’re looking at $69.99 for new PS5 games. And while Sony’s in charge of digital prices, others selling the physical stuff are basically having a price war to grab more customers. It’s like a pie-eating contest where the pies are games. Sort of.

Oh, and Lucia Melcherts, she’s in charge of this foundation – Stichting Massaschade & Consument, yeah, that’s a mouthful – and she’s calling out Sony, saying they’re ruining the party by jacking up prices without giving anything extra. Feels like getting charged more at an all-you-can-eat buffet, then realizing they took away the dessert table.

Sony is acting like they own the playground. The price hikes they’re sneaking in, like in April, really show off their muscle. Melcherts was saying how Sony’s kinda turning a blind eye to everyone else – competitors, gamers, you name it. Meanwhile, all this digital console talk was supposed to mean cheaper games. But nope, not in Sony’s walled-in garden where they block the other stores.

So in a nutshell, the ‘Fair PlayStation’ folks claim Sony’s doubling profits on digital games and cleaning up with 80% of the Dutch market under their thumb. This doesn’t just hurt gamers; developers and publishers are caught in the crossfire too.

Court time is set for some point in 2025. Fingers crossed the Dutch judges see things the gaming group’s way, maybe open up digital sales to other shops, and, well, even the playing field. Here’s hoping!

(And remember, if you’re itching for more tech scoops or whatever, you should totally check out Tom’s Hardware on Google News. Just saying.)

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