Sony’s $7.85M settlement approved: How to claim your free PlayStation store credit

Sony has agreed to a $7.85 million settlement to resolve a class action lawsuit in the United States regarding its digital sales practices. The lawsuit alleges Sony created a monopoly by ending the sale of digital game-specific vouchers at third-party retailers in April 2019, effectively forcing consumers to buy exclusively through the PlayStation Store-often at higher prices. A "fairness hearing" is scheduled for October 15, 2026, as credits will only be distributed after final court approval. To receive compensation, users must be a resident of the United States and meet specific requirements. The eligible timeline for a digital game on the PS Store lies between April 1, 2019, and December 31, 2023. Furthermore, the purchased game must have previously had a retail voucher sold at scale before April 2019, and the average price of the game must have increased by at least $0.50 after the vouchers were removed from retail stores. Compensation will be credited directly to users' PSN wallet. Individual payouts are expected to be small-likely between $1 and $3 per eligible purchase-after legal fees are deducted and the fund is divided among millions of users. Critics argue the settlement is a small fraction of the profit Sony likely made by eliminating retail competition. Sony is currently facing similar lawsuits in the UK and Europe over its digital marketplace control.

(Source：The News International)