US PlayStation players could be due payout as court agrees class-action settlement of $7.8 million

Key Points:

• A US judge has preliminarily approved a $7.85 million class-action settlement against Sony, alleging antitrust violations related to its closed digital store on the PlayStation Network (PSN).
• US PlayStation users who purchased digital games on PSN between April 1, 2019, and December 31, 2023, may be eligible for refunds unless they opt out by July 2, 2026; eligible games include titles like Destiny, Resident Evil 4 Remake, and The Last of Us.
• The settlement applies to users with active PSN accounts and those without accounts who must contact the lawsuit lawyers; a final court hearing to approve the settlement and attorney fees is scheduled for October 15, 2026.
• This lawsuit follows a 2024 European Court of Justice ruling that rejected Sony's copyright claims against third-party add-ons, marking a significant legal challenge to Sony's control over its gaming ecosystem.
• The outcome represents a major setback for Sony amid ongoing scrutiny over competition practices, with potential implications for PlayStation users outside the US still unclear.