If you’re a PlayStation loyalist, then you could be one of the many players potentially receiving a wad of cash in the near future.
Sony is facing a multi-billion pound lawsuit following a decision made by the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal this week.
The PlayStation maker has been accused of imposing unfair terms on developers by taking a 30 percent cut.
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A lawsuit - filed back in August 2022 by consumer rights advocate Alex Neill - also sees the company being accused of unfairly raising consumer prices.
Despite Sony’s lawyers calling it ‘flawed from start to finish’, the tribunal has given Neill’s lawsuit the green light.
The lawsuit is seeking £5 billion from the Japanese conglomerate and has accused it of ‘abusing gamers’ loyalty’.
Because this is a class action lawsuit, it means that anybody who made a purchase from the PlayStation store within a specific time frame could be entitled to compensation.
However, the tribunal ruled that anybody who had made a purchase after the date the mass lawsuit was filed would be getting zilch.
So, if you bought something via the PlayStation Store between August 19, 2016 and August 19, 2022, you could be one of the 8.9 million players getting a little richer
It’s said that gamers could receive anything from £67 to a whopping £562, plus interest.
Given the dates, it is assumed that purchases on the PlayStation 4 and 5 could be compensated.
Unfortunately, this cash settlement is not expected to hit your bank account anytime soon. But it is worth keeping tabs on.
The mass lawsuit is likely to take several years, and Sony is expected to fight the rulings at ‘every step of the way’.
Speaking about the accusations, Neill said: “This is the first step in ensuring consumers get back what they’re owed as a result of Sony breaking the law.
“PlayStation gamers’ loyalty has been taken advantage of by Sony who have been charging them excessive prices for years.”
Neill added that the court has ‘recognised’ that Sony must explain its actions by ‘ordering them to trial’.
“With this action we are seeking to put a stop to this unlawful conduct and ensure customers are compensated,” she concluded.
LADbible has reached out to Sony for comment.
Topics: PlayStation, PlayStation 5, Sony, Gaming, Technology, Money
Ella Scott