Honestly, this timing couldn’t be worse for PlayStation. Just as I’m getting really into my PS5, a UK court is looking into whether Sony is being a bit of a monopoly. And to make things even trickier, Microsoft’s new Xbox thing – Helix – sounds like it’s going to be way more open and flexible than the PlayStation system. It feels like my carefully built PlayStation ‘walled garden’ might be about to get shaken up!
A $2.7 billion lawsuit (£2 billion) claims that the Japanese company is unfairly exploiting its customers as more purchases shift from physical copies to digital downloads. The lawsuit argues customers are being treated like a ‘captive class’ with limited options.
Historically, shoppers could choose from many stores to buy physical games, which naturally encouraged competition. However, when it comes to digital games on PlayStation, there’s only one place to buy them: the PlayStation Store.
Years ago, you could buy codes to download games and other content from physical stores. However, Sony stopped offering those a while back.
Prosecutors accuse the company of using unfair tactics to control software sales on its platform, effectively creating a monopoly. However, the company maintains that allowing other app stores would create security vulnerabilities.
The company also explained its business strategy, noting that because its console is a closed system, it can afford to sell the hardware with a small profit margin.
Microsoft’s new Xbox Helix faces a challenge: allowing other stores like Steam means Microsoft won’t automatically profit from all console sales. Because of this, there’s talk that the console could be quite expensive, potentially costing $1,200 or even more.
Sony isn’t alone in dealing with this kind of legal issue; Apple and, surprisingly, Valve are also currently facing similar cases.
If PlayStation loses the current lawsuit, it could dramatically alter the gaming landscape. However, there’s a potential benefit: around 12.2 million players in the UK might receive roughly £162 (about $217) each as compensation.
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2026-03-10 23:09