PlayStation to issue $7.85 million settlement as Store credit for antitrust lawsuit

PlayStation Settlement Details

Sony will issue $7.85 million in PlayStation Store credit to US PlayStation Network accounts as a result of an antitrust settlement. The credit will be deposited automatically into eligible accounts, removing the need for users to file a claim form. The final approval for this settlement is pending a fairness hearing scheduled for October.

Background of the Lawsuit

The class action lawsuit, filed in May 2021 under the Sherman Act, stemmed from Sony's decision in April 2019 to stop allowing retailers like Amazon and GameStop to sell download codes for PlayStation games. Plaintiffs argued that this move eliminated retail price competition for digital PlayStation games, granting Sony a monopoly and the ability to charge higher prices on its storefront.

Eligibility for Payouts

Eligibility for a settlement payout is restricted to users who purchased specific digital games between April 1, 2019, and December 31, 2023. The purchased game must have had a retail download voucher available before April 1, 2019, accumulated at least 200 voucher redemptions, and its price must have increased by at least 50 cents after Sony discontinued the vouchers. Sony has provided a list of qualifying titles, including "The Last of Us Remastered," "Bloodborne," "Until Dawn," "NBA 2K18," and "No Man's Sky."

Distribution of Funds

Over 4.4 million eligible accounts have been identified. Each account's payout will be prorated based on the number of qualifying purchases made relative to other accounts in the pool. After legal fees, which can amount to up to 25 percent of the settlement plus expenses and service awards for the named plaintiffs, the typical share per eligible purchase is expected to be a small amount, potentially a dollar or two in store credit.