Stop Killing Games Joins $457M Lawsuit Against Sony for Monopoly

The Stop Killing Games movement today announced formal support for the Dutch class action lawsuit against Sony, seeking $457 million (approximately €435 million) for alleged monopoly in the PlayStation Store. The case, filed by the Stichting Massaschade & Consument foundation, represents approximately 1.7 million Dutch players who purchased digital games since November 2013. The news circulated today and intensifies pressure on the company, which confirmed the end of physical disc production for new games starting January 2028. This announcement, made on July 1, is cited as new evidence of Sony's absolute control over prices and distribution. The game preservation group DoesItPlay has also joined the cause, expanding the case's international reach.

The action alleges that Sony abuses its dominant position by charging a 30% commission on all digital sales, while economic consultants estimate the fair rate would be 12%. The calculation points to a €435 million loss for Dutch consumers, the amount behind the record compensation. The SM&C foundation argues that PlayStation is a closed ecosystem with no alternative stores, and that eliminating discs ends the used market and price competition. Without the physical option, players become captive to prices set by Sony, which also decides how long a game can be accessed. This total dependence is at the core of the monopoly accusation.

The end of physical discs, confirmed for January 2028, has generated worldwide reaction and fuels other lawsuits against Sony. In the United Kingdom, a class action representing 8.9 million consumers went to trial in March 2026 and awaits a final decision. In Mexico, lawmakers called for an investigation by the National Antitrust Commission over anticompetitive practices related to the plan to end disc production. Stop Killing Games, which has already gathered more than 1.2 million signatures on a European petition, is now expanding its efforts into the judicial field. The organization states that Sony's decision to eliminate discs is clear proof of monopolistic intent, as it removes any alternative for purchase and resale.

Sony has not yet commented on the merits of the Dutch action, and the Midden-Nederland court held the first hearing on June 29, 2026. The parties have until October 21 to respond to decisions from the Dutch Supreme Court before an interlocutory ruling. Experts note that cases of this scale usually take years for a final resolution, and any compensation would only come after final judgment. Meanwhile, pressure on Sony is growing, with criticism from players and consumer protection entities in multiple countries. The company maintains that games will remain available via digital codes, but these cannot be resold like discs. The legal battle could define the future of the games market and the balance of power between platforms and consumers. Stop Killing Games supports Dutch class action lawsuit of $457M against Sony for monopoly in the PlayStation Store, with 1.7 million players and end of discs in 2028. Sony, PlayStation Store, monopoly, lawsuit, Stop Killing Games, class action, physical discs, 2028, compensation, players Sony, PlayStation, lawsuit, monopoly, physical discs A PlayStation 5 controller next to a judge's gavel and a cracked game disc, with a digital price tag overlay, dark background, symbolic of monopoly lawsuit PlayStation 5 and judge's gavel represent the monopoly lawsuit Sony PlayStation Store monopoly lawsuit 2026 Stop Killing Games | PlayStation 5 disc production end 2028 antitrust case A gamer looking at a PlayStation Store digital price on a TV screen, with a physical game disc on the table, representing the price gap between digital and physical Player compares digital and physical prices on the PlayStation Store PlayStation Store digital price comparison physical disc 2026 | gamer holding PS5 disc vs digital store price