Sony Sued for Limiting Purchases of Games to PSN

According to Bloomberg, Sony is sued by some gamers because by their opinion Sony is acting as monopoly for its own games.

[Sonic-and-Crash]

I wonder if these consumers are the Bloomberg itself lol ...as they have launched an all out war against Playstation lately

imagine to get sued because you sell your products exclusively to your store lol ....are these gamers good in their mind?

[lodossrage]

@Sonic-and-Crash

Yeah I noticed that too. Bloomberg does seem to want to jump on Sony any chance they get lately.

But back on topic, I don't see this going anywhere. The lawsuit boils down to "we're mad Sony doesn't allow us to buy game codes for psn games outside of the psn network so we're suing".

Edit- they're also saying that games are being charged as much as 175% more compared to what they were when games were on stores outside of psn. I don't remember anything like that at all. But that's just me.

[Sonic-and-Crash]

i also dont remember any game to be sold more pricey in PSN ...in contrary all PSn games had always far lower prices than the physical retail (if you include the plethora of price cuts and offers by Sony every month)

[RosweeSon]

Just get your credit elsewhere most good places offer a reasonable discount between 10-20% save the money that way instead.

[darthv72]

I thought you could by the digital codes from gamestop? I know Ive seen them sell digital xbox games. Even bestbuy had these cool little game cases with a collectable coin and the digital code.

So I know its possible to buy digital games outside of the respected online stores. Not all games, but big name ones at least.

[TallDarknWavy]

This may only be a problem once retail finally dies off.

[Teflon02]

The epic Games effect lmao. A bunch of clowns really think epic were on to something. They're wasting their money. About to be an example lol

[Atom666]

The climate is ripe for the Apple suit, though. The October report from the House has set the stage for an even bigger fight for Apple and Google in particular.

While it hasn't gotten a lot of attention, the Cydia suit is even more interesting imo. That's an App store that existed before Apple had their own that is alleging Apple has systematically gone about undermining their business after initially relying on 3rd party app stores.

Regardless, these issues aren't going away until there's some rulings made.

[WelkinCole]

I still don't understand that suit. I mean if I build a store it will be my store and my rules. You want to be on it be it sell or buy you need to play by my rules. You are free to disagree and go somewhere else. Its a free world

[Atom666]

The present suits aren't entirely different than the MS suit from the 90's. You're free to create your own store or OS and run it however you want, but it doesn't mean you might not be doing it legally.

Antitrust and anticompetitive allegations don't mean you have a complete monopoly.

For the Epic suit, the example their attorneys used this week isn't bad:

Think of Apple as a car dealer. In order to run, the cars they sell need fuel (i.e. apps). Fuel comes from other companies. Instead of letting you go to whatever Exxon station you want, Apple makes you come through their own gas station. You buy that same ExxonMobil gas, but Apple takes 30%. Try going to one of those other stations, and they shut you down.

It's not a strong suit, but Epic has read the room. They've exposed the ridiculous arbitrary profit margins on Apple's store, and given the DOJ even more to look at.

Sony suit is weaker. But like the Epic one, I'm not sure why gamers are pro-corporations on these. Maybe take Sony out of the equation (which is fair because these suits will be coming against others).

The bare-basic premise is that the digital store is so closed off that it allows for anticompetitive behavior and price inflation.

Isn't the #1 complaint in any digital-only doomsday article "they'll control the market and drive up prices!!!"

Plaintiffs are saying this has already started. They'll probably not be successful, but if it somehow results in digital pricing becoming more competitive, I'd think gamers would be ok with it?

Not every game is available on physical. Those that are see better discounts because of competition.

[Petebloodyonion]

@darth72 you can't buy Sony digital code anymore only PSN voucher for PSN money.

[NeoGamer232]

If Sony only sold its games digitally, I could see this may be having some merit. But since you can buy a physical disc instead of digital there is no merit.

[TheEroica]

Lol this is along the same line of madness we heard from gamers complaining about Nintendo choosing how, when and how long they choose to keep their products on the shelf...

Is there no end to the complaining from gamers?

[thorstein]

If this goes through I am suing Little Ceasers for not selling Pizza Hut pizza.

[SyntheticForm]

Sony should be sued for having piss poor authentication systems. Detroit's strip clubs are probably more sophisticated.

Twentieth day of getting error code 8210604a. Can't purchase anything through the console storefront, the app storefront, or their straight-up website.

Sony's always been a bit shoddy in these areas.

[RosweeSon]

People are ridiculous 🤦🏻‍♂️😑 🤣

[Darkborn]

This would get thrown out anyways because a few of their games are available on pc. You can't say none of their games are available elsewhere if it's false. On top of that like people have said, it's their games and their store. Plus mlb the show 21 just released on Xbox. Did we forget that already?

[kneon]

Also most games are available in physical form from a wide choice of retailers

[--Onilink--]

Thats not what the lawsuit is about, at all.

Its about codes for digital games no longer being available for purchase on Amazon, BestBuy, etc.

Its not about releasing exclusives in other game platforms.

Not saying there is any specific merit to the lawsuit, but almost every comment in the article so far seems to think its about exclusives

[Darkborn]

That still wouldn't hold water because it's a choice to limit product to their own store.

[--Onilink--]

Again, im not saying it has merit or not, just that basically everyone commenting on the article havent read anything and are assuming the lawsuit is about Sony releasing their games in other platforms.

And not about buying psn game codes on places like amazon, best buy, etc (which was possible before)

[Petebloodyonion]

It's not about Sony's games being available only on playstation,
it's about being Playstation store being the only place where you can buy digital PlayStation games
Thus forcing a digital-only consumer (PlayStation 5 digital edition) into having only 1 place to purchase a game
or removing the publisher power for negotiating fees (the famous 30%)
You can buy Steam games on Humble-Bundle, CD keys, etc.
You can buy Digital Xbox on several stores
Same with Switch code

[senorfartcushion]

Oh well, they can afford it. They’ll probably win because they’re a huge, billion dollar company who doesn’t care about people.

[Vengeance1138]

lmao and you think MS or Nintendo does?? Thats called every company ever... they are what is called a "business" with a goal to "make money" not to care about feelings.

[Imalwaysright]

Did he say that MS or Nintendo cared?

[FanboysKiller]

Well Spencer and his teammates are at least sociable unlike sony's figureheads.

[ajax17]

trolling or incredibly dumb🤔

[TheTony316]

Suing Sony for this? Only possible in the US.

[Deathdeliverer]

This must be taken out of context or written wrong. If not this is ridiculous.

[dumahim]

Yeah, it seems odd. I can't say I've been looking to buy digital codes anywhere, but I don't think I've ever seen third parry code sales for Nintendo, Xbox, Android or Apple.

[sourOG]

Lmao.. good luck.

[anast]

I have a fruit stand, but I gave my fruit to someone else so they can sell it. Now I am broke.

[Hellcat2020]

Almost as ridiculous the lawsuit against Sony for the Killzone shadowfall graphics not being what was advertised

[adamwparker]

I can't believe McDonalds only sells their Big Macs at their own stores!
I have to drive like.....10 extra minutes to get to a McDonalds! They should allow the market right by my house to sell their Big Macs!

I'm suing!!!

[Petebloodyonion]

Actually, are you forced to buy your Bigmac from the Mc. Donald's app or you can go to your local Mc. Donald restaurant?
And last I check you could also buy a restaurant license meaning different owners?
and last but not least How come prices can differ from restaurants?

[Gamble20]

At least with Apple you could argue there is an effective duopoly, but it’s going to be hard to argue that there is a lack of options on which platform someone uses to play games. Especially with the expansion of cross platform play and the fact that some PS exclusives are coming or have gone to PC, not to mention anyone can buy games in a retail channel rather than PSN if they so choose. This case has no merit.

[--Onilink--]

That’s exactly what the lawsuit is about though, that you cant buy the codes for PS games from retail chains anymore (Amazon, BestBuy, etc). It doesnt have anything to do with where you can play PS games.
Its very clear in the article, not sure why everyone is talking about it like they are suing because they cant play PS games on another platform

[Limitedtimestruggle]

I actually dig how Sony is getting a lot of flack these days. I don't want another initial PS3 era Sony, too ful of themselves. Sitting comfortably too long on top ain't healthy 😛

[VenomCarnage89]

While I agree with the sentiment that I don't want Sony to get too comfortable in 1st place, puff pieces like what bloomberg writes for clicks won't affect Sony's mindset much, if at all. Microsoft becoming a more competent competitor in the gaming market is what could keep Sony from complacency, it's too bad that they can't even manage to do that much though.

[Locutus_of_borg]

I guess its just some fly by night operation jumping on the bandwagon because of the bigger Epic vs Apple case...

[CS7]

This is as a result of Epic’s stupid war with Apple.

To all who support Epic this is end result.

[waverider]

Sony gives clicks. Bloomberg must be in big problems.

[dumahim]

I don't think Bloomberg filed the lawsuit. They're just reporting it, like other news outlets.

[badz149]

So...when will people start to sue Nintendo for creating false scarcity for their games by selling the games with limited digital availability?

[XiNatsuDragnel]

Oh boy let see how this show plays out

[DJStotty]

Just when you think you have heard everything, you come across this heap of s*&t.

Saying that, it could have some weight, i was looking for digital codes for MLB the show on Amazon, and could not find one for PS5, but i could for the Series X, the Series X digital code was £59.99, whereas the PS5 copy was £69.99.

All in all, pretty sure it is not something they can be sued for.

[Highrevz]

Not one person here saying “it would be nice to have that option as a gamer”

[Petebloodyonion]

Wrong website for hoping ppl to root for the consumer interest instead of the interest of big companies.

[Silly gameAr]

I would be to embarrassed to even try something like this,

[TheColbertinator]

Some of these lawsuits going around are weird but whatever brings Sony down makes me happy

[SavageFlamingo]

Let’s be honest here. They’re just upset they can’t buy a code for dirt cheap that was paid for with someone’s stolen credit card info i.e. black market key sites.

[Petebloodyonion]

Actually, the ppl making the suits do have a case.
By making digital code only available thru Sony's PSN you remove any competition thus making Sony the only one fixing price in the ecosystem.
This can be easily proven
a couple of days ago I renew my PS+ subscription thru CDkeys for 55% cheaper compared to the price of the same subscription thru PSN store.
https://www.cdkeys.com/play...
Now if the code was only available thru PSN then I wouldn't have benefited from this deal.
The same can be applied to games as certain Xbox digitals games are cheaper on Cdkeys compared to the Xbox store
For example, Outrider is 40$ on CDKeys compared to 79$ on Xbox.com
https://www.cdkeys.com/outr...

So yeah sony is actually having a monopoly in fixing the digital price for PSN customers and with console-like Serie S and Playstation 5 all digital this is indeed something that should be addressed.

[VersusDMC]

Imagine creating something for your own store to sell and then be forced to sell it in another store for them to purely profit off your work...cool logic bro.

Do you think CDkeys doesn't sell things for profit? And in the case of Outriders do you think the CDkey cut comes from square's end or Microsoft's? Is it ok if it comes out of Square's?

[Petebloodyonion]

I'm sure that big Internet and cellphone providers like Comcast would love your answer because it's exactly what they mentioned when forced to provide access to their network to small Internet providers to create competition so the consumers could have a lower price in the end.

Now let me ask you a question If you are owning a Playstation5 digital edition where can you buy games?
If the answer from only the PSN store then what leverage you as the consumer have?
What leverage does Capcom have when negotiating fees (the famous 30% cut)?
etc.
and what happens if Sony controls 50% of the market and starts bullying companies into having a PSN version 1st etc?
Now, of course with Ps5 you can say well buy the more expensive console but what about Playstation 6, 7, etc.

Now just letting you know that Humble Bundle creator is suing Steam for similar reasons and unlike Sony, Steam does allow keys to be sold on other markets.
https://arstechnica.com/gam...

[VersusDMC]

Comparing the internet to games is totally fair...because games are life necessities.

You can only buy PSN digital games on PSN because you can only redeem them on PSN or play them on a console with PSN on it.

The leverage you have as a consumer is going to xbox, Switch, PC, etc if you don't like their prices.

The leverage Capcom has is exclusivity or Marketing deals with other platforms if they don't give them a lower rate. Other platforms that also have 30% cuts by the way.

What is PSN version first? Do you mean exclusives? Everyone has those. Like Microsoft buying Bethesda so there won't be a new Bethesda game on PSN ever again.

[Petebloodyonion]

" Comparing the internet to games is totally fair...because games are life necessities."
So when it's life necessities it's ok to go against your principles?

"You can only buy PSN digital games on PSN because you can only redeem them on PSN or play them on a console with PSN on it."
So by your logic, I should only be able to buy Disney's admittance ticket at the attraction parc or I should only buy a restaurant voucher at the proper restaurant and Ski admittance at the ski station because I can only redeem the voucher at that said location.

"The leverage you have as a consumer is going to xbox, Switch, PC, etc if you don't like their prices."
Talk about simple logic like, let's not discuss the fact that you need to buy another console, pay another subscription, some titles are not available, you will lose progressions, friends list, etc.

"The leverage Capcom has is exclusivity or Marketing deals with other platforms if they don't give them a lower rate."
judging that Epic who's one of the biggest players is complaining about Sony's 30% cut despite several deals is a clear indication that Sony does not negotiate fees on PSN and like I said when you have no choice to release a game on PSN due to market size what choice does a publisher have?

PSN first could simply be a clause that forces the publisher to release the game before on PSN versus physical or other platforms (like the fail Xbox parity clause)
It could simply be the obligation to charge a minimum fee for all transactions
And the fact that Sony is already asking Epic to pay compensation for crossplay or the History of Sony music versus various artists is enough to prove that Sony has no problem bullying companies or consumers when they are in control.

Now I'm not saying that Sony is wrong because clearly, they have built PSN just like Apple did the Applestore
I'm just saying that it does raise some valid questions regarding a future where digital sales will be the norm.

[CobraKai]

I’ve never never never ever paid 175% over the cost of physical or 3rd party store, for a psn game. If anything I’ve paid -75% to -100% off games from Sony’s sales and giveaways.

[Master-Tonberry]

You can just use PSN wallet top-ups to bring the Playstation Store prices down. That's what I did for RE8 and it reduced the cost to £47.49 which is about the same as what the third party stores are selling the Xbox version for.

[badboyz09]

Sue EA for monopoly

[kayoss]

I’m going to sue McDonald’s for not letting me buy a McRibs at Burger King.

[Petebloodyonion]

Well, last I check you are not forced to buy your Mc Ribs online and the offer differs between each Mc. Donalds
also, promotions and prices may vary between restaurants.

[Orchard]

Yeah… because Microsoft and Nintendo aren’t doing the same thing, only Sony /s

Frivolous lawsuit at best.

[--Onilink--]

They arent, you can buy digital codes for Xbox and Switch games from other sites like Amazon

[BrainSyphoned]

What is war good for? Culling and backbones.

[masterfox]

What in the effing heck? , this is just ridiculuos.

[stefd75]

And this is why you always buy physical versions, they are cheaper for one

[Stanjara]

So when the game is 75% off on digital store, I as Amazon should purchase dose digital codes from Sony, than when the game is back full price on PSN, I as amazon should put my digital codes on 50% sale and make a buck.
If not, Monopoly!!!

[YourMommySpoils]

The logic behind, going to retailer to buy DLC codes in the first place, is just ridiculous.

[Rimeskeem]

OMG, Sony isn't selling their products on other platforms? I can't believe they would make their products exclusive to their platform D:

[BlaqMagiq1]

Anyone that thinks they will win this case is an idiot.

[gold_drake]

wheres the Microsoft, Nintendo lawsuit then? this is so ridiculous ha.

[--Onilink--]

You can buy Switch and Xbox digital codes for games on other sites

[gold_drake]

not everywhere. but thats not the point XD

[--Onilink--]

Thats exactly the point, the lawsuit is specifically because you no longer can buy game codes for PS games anywhere outside the PSN and it is possible to do it for Xbox and Switch games so they have no relevance in the the lawsuit

[gold_drake]

theres no way to buy codes outside of their respective stores where i live. so can i sue xbox and nintendo too? theres a world outside of the us u no.

[--Onilink--]

DIGITAL codes.... you can buy them even if you dont live in the US... i dont live in the US and I’m still perfectly capable of going opening up a browser and going to the Amazon site

Why is it so hard to admit that you were wrong trying bring MS and Nintendo in the mix without checking if they had anything to do with the lawsuit?

[gold_drake]

because u made suuuch a big deal out of it ha.
funny to egg u on xD

[neomahi]

Work on your titles. Sony WAS Sued or Sony Filed for Lawsuit. Thats poor English.

[Christopher]

You can blame Amazon for Sony pulling digital game codes. Amazon wanted a higher cut off all digital sales and weren't allowing preorders of Sony games until they did it. Sony either caved or did what they did. But they couldn't just pull out of Amazon, they had to pull from everywhere.

I'm conflicted on this since Sony does have the digital only PS5 and that does create an issue. But Amazon is an ass and would do everything in their power to ruin Sony if they didn't cave to their demands.

[Gameseeker_Frampt]

That isn't even close to what happened but it isn't surprising to see the lengths some go to defend Sony. Sony stopped third-parties from selling digital PSN games in 2019. Amazon stop selling pre-orders for Sony exclusives as well as PSN cards in 2018 and they only returned in 2018 after Amazon ended their Amazon Prime pre-order discount. 2018 was also the same year that Best Buy terminated Gamers Club Unlocked - another program that offered consumers an option to buy a game cheaper at launch than what was found on PSN.

It's amusing that both Microsoft and Nintendo still sell digital games on Amazon yet some try to blame Amazon for the removal of digital PSN games from Amazon - and GameStop as well apparently. Sony wanted complete control over digitals sales as well as the removal of any competition that sold games cheaper than them at launch.

[Christopher]

You just lined up everything that happened accurately. But you preceded it with "this isn't even close" when it shows a timeline of exactly what happened.

If you didn't understand.

2018: Amazon pressured Sony to give them more of a cut, stopped doing pre-orders of Sony games.
2019: Sony stopped selling digital PSN games because Amazon didn't stop with the pressure.

Also look up Amazon doing the same with Disney https://www.forbes.com/site...

Why not Microsoft/Nintendo? Because Sony had the mass majority of digital code sales on Amazon the same way Disney dominated movie sales.

[Gameseeker_Frampt]

It wasn't Amazon that was doing the pressuring on Sony and bringing up an unrelated case from 4 years prior just highlights that you have no proof to back up your claims (you did just try to claim that in response to Amazon wanting a bigger cut from Sony, Amazon ended their 20% off discount for preorders). Since there is no court case where we get to see internal company communications, all we can do is look at what happened and when. What we do know is that Amazon and Best Buy were both selling physical PS4 games at launch cheaper than Sony was selling them on PSN. Clearly Sony didn't want that to continue and in 2018 Amazon stopped taking pre-orders for Sony published PS4 games. Since only Sony published games were affected, it seems that Sony's response to Amazon's Prime discount for preorders was to no longer supply Amazon with launch day copies. This whole thing was resolved later in 2018 when Amazon ended their Prime discount in August (Death Stranding was again available for preorder). Best Buy also decided to end their video game discount program in the middle of this incident, a great coincidence for a publisher like Sony who has a digital store that competed with them.

Sony stopped selling third party retailers from selling PSN games in 2019 and there is zero proof that this had anything to do with Amazon. It doesn't make any sense that Sony's response to supposed pressuring from Amazon was to stop selling digital games through every company competing with Amazon instead of just not selling them through Amazon. It also doesn't help your theory when Nintendo in Europe has also has stopped Nintendo published digital games through third-party stores. It seems this has nothing to do with a company having "the mass majority of digital code sales on Amazon" and is more about Sony and Nintendo eliminating competition to their digital storefront and the prices they set.

[Christopher]

***What we do know is that Amazon and Best Buy were both selling physical PS4 games at launch cheaper than Sony was selling them on PSN. Clearly Sony didn't want that to continue and in 2018 Amazon stopped taking pre-orders for Sony published PS4 games.***

Clearly, you are using your own opinion rather than actual facts I provided to come to this conclusion based on the fact that Sony suddenly didn't like that prices were higher on their store than on Amazon/Best Buy when they had been dealing with that for over a decade already and have shown to make plenty of money digitally and especially on MTX.

Sorry, but you have no clue and are using opinion as fact that doesn't make sense when I presented to you actual historical evidence of what Amazon did. Nor would it make sense for Sony to jeopardize pre-orders of their own games, which is one of the biggest payday draws for any publisher and set goals for the development of additional content and more, just to take more from sales that they were made mostly from their own store and they were already outselling others with PSN cards.

No. Just no.

[mkis007]

As long as they sell wallet codes (and at a discount like at costco 100 for 90) there is no monopoly.

[Inverno]

Interesting week it's been.

[Vanfernal]

This is most likely to avoid code resellers and the sales of stolen keys.

[SavageFlamingo]

Thank you. These cheap codes that everyone loves so much come at the expense of some random person whose credit card information has been stolen.

[ajax17]

I can't wait to watch these idiots lose their ass in attorney fees

[Extermin8or3_]

The judge will laugh this out of court. They are wasting their money and the lawyers they must be paying for this MUSR know that.

[frostypants]

Stupid. Ruling in the plaintiffs favor would take down half the damn software industry with it.

[InUrFoxHole]

SDF! FORM UP!

[ghostrider32]

The judge himself is gonna punch the creator of this stupid lawsuit for wasting his time.

[AceBlazer13]

*Smells N4G air*

Haven't been here in a while.

[Unknown_Gamer5794]

Dicks. That's not only a waste of the court's time, but time and staffing costs money. I'm so glad I don't live in that country, let alone that region, because to my understanding, the courts are funded by taxpayers and I sure as heck wouldn't want to know that my taxpayer dollars were being squandered because someone in the courts has to look at this case. Hopefully they have the good sense to throw it out before it gets to a judge, because if it goes before one, I feel for anyone who files a lawsuit after this and has to wait longer for their day in court over legit matters due to the sheer volume of cases to sort through, some of which are probably frivolous wastes of time like this.

So what if Sony wants to only sell their game purchases through PSN? You can still get PSN cards through other retailers if you want to spend the money that way. Also, I don't think their prices are that bad, so I don't fear this "monopoly". I don't know how this is news to some people, but Sony can decide how to distribute games on their platform as they see fit, because it's their platform. If you don't like that, you can take your business elsewhere, but you do not have the right to tell Sony what to do with their platform.

I'm also pretty sure agreement of their terms of service over the use of PSN and the PS Store is treated as being akin to a signature. Therefore, if you are a current PSN customer, no matter what specific terms they laid out, you consented to all of them, in a legally binding agreement. That you likely didn't read the agreement in its entirety (I sure haven't) doesn't matter. At the very least, Sony can decide to cut off their service to these people, and they would be well within their rights to do so. If they do, they can have fun not being able to get digital games from them at all. On top of that, there's a good chance their case will be thrown out simply because they indicated that they're perfectly ok with the way Sony does business, and that's to say nothing of the plethora of other terms they have agreed to.

If they disagreed with the terms of service on the other hand, they not only don't have service from Sony, but they're not even a PSN customer. So...what's their problem? What Sony does in that case wouldn't affect them in the slightest, so their case is not only frivolous, but pointless as well.

Yeah...I can't think of an angle where the people filing this lawsuit come out looking like anything but complete morons, and they're likely not going to get very far. I hope it ends up being very expensive for them, and I hope even more that they end up paying for wasting the court's time too.

[Towers]

Sony will have a monopoly in selling digital versions of a game if they're the only store on the system. Same with Xbox also.
It reminds me of when MS were forced to include other web browsers on Window machines so they weren't forcing users into using Edge.. Or whatever their browser was called. In fact I'd say that law suit had way less substance than this, as you could always use their browser to download chrome or firefox.
I'd love for there to be other digital stores on consoles, especially as I haven't bought a physical copy of a game in about 3 years and will more than likely buy a digital only version of the PS5.
But more choice is far better for the consumer, way cheaper games and more chances to pick up deals.

[Psychotica]

Yeah I am going to sue McDonald's because I can't buy a Big Mac at Pizza Hut..