A federal judge in the Northern District of California has granted preliminary approval to a $7.85 million class-action settlement against Sony Interactive Entertainment over alleged anticompetitive practices on the PlayStation Store. Eligible US PlayStation Network users who bought certain digital games or vouchers from April 1, 2019, to December 31, 2023, could receive automatic store credits or refunds, even if accounts are inactive (contact lawyers if former user). A final fairness hearing is set for October 15, 2026.
The settlement in Caccuri, et al. v. Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC (filed May 7, 2021) was preliminarily approved on April 8, 2026, with Saveri Law Firm announcing it on April 29, 2026. Lead plaintiff Agustin Caccuri accused Sony of monopolizing digital game sales by halting third-party sales of game-specific digital vouchers in April 2019, affecting retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, Target, and Walmart, and forcing higher prices on the PlayStation Store. Sony has denied the anticompetitive claims.
Compensation covers over 4.4 million eligible US PSN accounts for purchases of specified digital games (e.g., The Last of Us, NBA 2K18, Need for Speed Rivals, Destiny, Destiny 2, Nier: Automata, Resident Evil 4 Remake, Until Dawn) or retailer vouchers during the period (direct online PS Store purchases excluded). Eligible users automatically qualify unless they opt out by July 2, 2026, or previously objected; former account holders must contact the lawyers separately. Credits will be issued automatically to active linked PSN accounts post-final approval; full list on the PSN Digital Games Settlement website.
A prior settlement attempt was rejected in July 2025 for insufficient recovery details. The October 15, 2026, hearing will determine if the deal is fair, reasonable, and adequate, including allocation and attorney fees. This US case differs from a UK class action ('PlayStation You Owe Us'), where Sony faces claims up to $2.7 billion for overcharging, and follows a 2024 European Court of Justice ruling rejecting Sony's copyright claims against third-party cheat software.
