Dutch consumer group suing PlayStation argues the end of physical discs just proves its point: ‘Sony alone decides what a game costs and even how long you are allowed to use it’

Sony’s decision to discontinue physical PlayStation game disc production by 2028 has strengthened the legal position of critics challenging its digital marketplace practices. A Dutch consumer organization, Stichting Massaschade & Consument, is pursuing a €400 million ($457 million) lawsuit against Sony over the 30% commission charged on PlayStation Store sales—a fee that physical retail games avoid entirely. The organization argues that eliminating physical discs removes the last competitive marketplace for PlayStation games, leaving Sony as the sole arbiter of pricing and access.

The lawsuit highlights a fundamental consumer rights issue: Sony controls not only game prices on its platform but also licensing terms that determine how long consumers can access purchased games. Digital purchases function as temporary licenses rather than owned products, concentrating power entirely in Sony’s hands. The consumer group views the discontinuation of physical media as proof that Sony maintains monopolistic control over its ecosystem.

Industry analysts have compared this transition to Apple’s removal of CD drives from laptops starting in 2008, a change few lament today. However, the implications differ significantly in gaming. While personal computers shifted to purely digital distribution relatively smoothly, video game licensing involves restrictive terms and pricing controls that centralize corporate authority. Analysts argue the discussion must refocus on consumer rights and what digital licensing arrangements should actually guarantee.

The situation may become more contentious if rival platforms announce disc-to-digital conversion programs, which would underscore the different industry approaches to the physical-to-digital transition and emphasize Sony’s unilateral control over its ecosystem.

Sources

• Dutch consumer group suing PlayStation argues the end of physical discs just proves its point: ‘Sony alone decides what a game costs and even how long you are allowed to use it’
• Analyst says Sony going all-in on digital is like the death of PC disc drives: ‘Not a single person is complaining about it today’
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