PlayStation faces £2bn trial as 12 million UK gamers could be owed £162 each 

A £2 billion competition case alleges Sony charged 20% more for digital PlayStation games than physical copies, potentially costing loyal gamers hundreds of pounds.

Around 12 million UK PlayStation users could be owed an average of £162 each as a 10-week trial begins this week into claims Sony overcharged gamers for digital downloads.

The £2 billion lawsuit, led by Consumer Voice co-founder Alex Neill, says Sony used its control over the PlayStation Store to inflate prices for digital games and add-on content. Evidence in the case suggests digital versions of games were priced around 20% more than physical copies of the same games.

In most markets, digital products cost less than physical ones because there are no manufacturing, packaging or distribution costs. But the claim argues that Sony’s exclusive control over PlayStation digital sales created a “walled garden”, shutting out competition and allowing higher prices to persist. 

“With this claim we’re not saying people shouldn’t play games on the PlayStation,” Neill explained ahead of the trial. 

“What we are saying is that we think those gamers have paid too much, and they should get some money back. Sony has deliberately blocked competition for the sale of digital games and add-on content for years and that has meant consumers have been overcharged.”

The Competition Appeal Tribunal will hear the case from 2 March, with proceedings expected to run until mid-May. 

For full details of the claim, including how to opt in and opt out, visit the official PlayStation claim website. That site manages registration and any future compensation process. 

To stay informed about how the trial progresses and what it could mean for you, sign up to Consumer Voice for independent updates. We’ll let you know if and when you need to take action.

How Sony allegedly kept prices high

At the heart of the case is a simple question: why are digital PlayStation games more expensive than physical copies when they should cost less to distribute?

The claim’s legal team says Sony has deliberately excluded competition from its digital marketplace. Unlike physical games – where retailers like Amazon, GAME and supermarkets compete on price – the PlayStation Store is the only place to buy digital PlayStation games.

“Sony has complete control over the system and the whole PlayStation system,” Natasha Pearman, Partner at Milberg London, the law firm working with Neill on her claim, explained. “It has pricing control; it basically acts as a gatekeeper to the digital distribution channel. Through its conduct and a very clear strategy over the last 10 years, it has taken steps deliberately to exclude competition and exclude any rivals.”

The legal team compared digital and physical game prices and found that physical copies sold in stores and online were, on average, 20% cheaper than the digital versions on the PlayStation Store.

In physical retail, individual stores decide pricing and compete with each other. But in Sony’s digital storefront, the company controls both the platform and the prices, with no alternative digital retailers allowed. Even publishers of major games cannot sell their own titles directly to PlayStation users – all digital sales must go through Sony’s store, where the company charges a commission of up to 30%.

“They’ve stopped people from competing with them at that end of the market,” Pearman said. “They’ve blocked out anyone else from being able to distribute, even the publishers of their own games.”

Why loyal PlayStation fans may have been hit hardest

The case argues that Sony’s most dedicated customers – those who spend the most on games and stay loyal to the PlayStation ecosystem – have likely been affected most by the alleged overcharging.

Sony’s business model relies on maintaining a loyal fanbase through features like backward compatibility, which lets players transfer games from older consoles to new ones. While these features benefit customers, they also make PlayStation users less likely to switch to competing platforms like Xbox.

“Sony’s whole business model is based on having and maintaining a loyal fanbase,” Pearman explained. “It takes various steps to ensure that the loyal fanbase remains loyal and tied into the system. But that also means you’ve got a very sticky base of consumers that are less likely to switch, that are less price sensitive because of all of these issues. As a result of that and the fact that there’s very little competition, Sony is able to exploit these consumers.”

The claim points to examples where Sony has allegedly prioritised protecting its market control over innovation. Cross-play – the ability to play games with friends on other consoles – was delayed on PlayStation compared to Xbox, according to publicly available information. Even when Sony eventually allowed cross-play, it implemented the feature differently to maintain control over its ecosystem.

“That goes to the heart of what Sony is trying to protect in what’s called its walled garden,” Neill said.

What could change if Sony loses

If the claim succeeds, the immediate impact would be compensation for affected gamers – an estimated £162 per person on average, though the amount would vary depending on individual spending.

But the legal team argues that the case could have longer-term effects on how digital game stores operate. In a more competitive market, they expect:

• Lower prices going forward: Digital games could drop by around 20%, with publishers able to compete more on price and alternative digital stores potentially entering the market.
• More competition in subscriptions: Major publishers might offer their own subscription services on PlayStation, similar to how streaming services like Netflix, Disney+ and Prime Video compete in TV and film. Currently, PlayStation Plus is effectively the only subscription option for PlayStation-exclusive content.
• Greater innovation: With genuine competition, Sony would need to compete on features and services rather than relying on its control of the platform.

When could gamers see compensation?

The 10-week trial begins on 2 March 2026 and could run until mid-May. However, there won’t be an immediate judgment. The Tribunal typically takes several months to deliver its ruling after a trial concludes – potentially up to six months for complex cases like this one.

If Sony loses, there may be appeals, which could extend the timeline further. Realistically, if the claim succeeds without settlement or appeals, compensation distribution might begin in around a year’s time. However, with potential appeals, it could take longer.

There’s also the possibility of a settlement at any stage. The legal team pointed to the car delivery charges case led by Mark McLaren, which saw settlements reached both before trial, and after trial but before judgment.

The streaming of the trial will begin on 10 March, with the opening week where parties present their arguments.

Who is eligible and what you need to do

UK consumers who purchased digital games or add-on content from the PlayStation Store between 19 August 2016 and 12 February 2026 are automatically included in the claim unless they opt out.

If you’re based outside the UK but made eligible purchases while living in the UK, you must actively opt in to participate.

The deadline for both opting in and opting out is 9 March 2026 – during the first week of the trial.

You may be eligible if:

• You (or a member of your family) own or owned a PS4 or PS5 between 19 August 2016 and 12 February 2026
• You spent money buying digital games or in-app purchases from the PlayStation Store
• You live in the UK (or lived in the UK when making purchases)

There is nothing you need to do now to be eligible for compensation if you’re UK-based. 

Sign up to Consumer Voice to follow the trial and receive updates on when and how you can claim if the case succeeds.