In August of last year, a collective legal action was initiated against Sony in the UK, accusing the company of imposing “unfair prices” on its customers through the PlayStation Store. Alex Neill, the individual who spearheaded the initiative, claimed that consumers were overcharged by approximately £5 billion (over 65 billion Swedish kronor) over a span of six years.

Recently, a British court decided to proceed with the class-action lawsuit, despite Sony’s attempts to halt it. The legal action is being financed by a third-party company that is investing in the case due to the high likelihood of recovering the funds and making a profit.

These kinds of lawsuits, however, are known for their protracted timelines, and any resolution may not be anticipated in the coming year. The team behind the lawsuit against Sony stated in a document:

“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… With this action, we are seeking to put a stop to this unlawful conduct and ensure customers are compensated.”

Individuals automatically included in this class action must have resided in the UK between August 2016 and August 2022 and made purchases of software or downloadable content through the PlayStation Store.