Latest PS5 Lawsuit Claims Sony Could ‘Double Dip’ on Trump’s Tariffs
Sony faces a new legal challenge regarding its PS5 pricing strategy. A lawsuit filed on May 6th argues that the company could “double dip” on refunds related to US tariffs imposed on imported goods. The case centers on Sony’s decision to increase PS5 console prices in the United States on August 20th, 2025, when the company cited a “challenging economic environment” — a reference to tariffs implemented by the US government on imported electronics.
Circumstances shifted significantly when the US Supreme Court ruled on April 20th, 2026, that these tariffs were unlawful. Following this decision, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) established a tariff refund program to address the unlawfully collected duties.
The lawsuit’s core contention is that Sony stands to profit from both the price increase consumers paid during the tariff period and the refunds the company received from the government — hence the “double dip” terminology. This raises critical questions about whether Sony should be obligated to pass government refunds along to consumers who paid the elevated prices, or if the company can retain the additional revenue while receiving government compensation.
This represents the latest in a mounting series of legal challenges facing Sony. The case highlights broader tensions between corporate pricing strategies, government tariff policies, and consumer protection — specifically whether companies should absorb the cost of tariff-driven price increases when those tariffs are later deemed illegal.