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Showing posts from August, 2025

"Digital-Only" Games are a Nightmare - Sony PlayStation is Exhibit A

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The PS5 Pro is certainly one of the consoles of all times. It boasts a $700 price tag, a selection of games only purchasable through the PS store, and a disc drive... sold separately for $80. It's a trend Sony started with their original PS5 launch in 2020, offering a digital-only console for cheaper than its disc drive counterpart. This followed after a decision in 2019 to prevent retailers from selling digital game codes. From get, it was clear what Sony wanted to accomplish - a monopoly on digital games.  In 2021, an  anti-trust lawsuit was filed against Sony Group Corporation and its entertainment subsidiary under Section 2 of the Sherman Act, which outlaws monopolization through anti-competitive practices. A settlement was submitted to the  U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in December of 2024, offering to give out $7.8 million of electronic credits. This was denied by the judge this past July, frowning upon Sony's offer of a "coupon set...

"Digital-Only" Games are a Nightmare - Sony PlayStation is Exhibit A

Image
The PS5 Pro is certainly one of the consoles of all times. It boasts a $700 price tag, a selection of games only purchasable through the PS store, and a disc drive... sold separately for $80. It's a trend Sony started with their original PS5 launch in 2020, offering a digital-only console for cheaper than its disc drive counterpart. This followed after a decision in 2019 to prevent retailers from selling digital game codes. From get, it was clear what Sony wanted to accomplish - a monopoly on digital games.  In 2021, an  anti-trust lawsuit was filed against Sony Group Corporation and its entertainment subsidiary under Section 2 of the Sherman Act, which outlaws monopolization through anti-competitive practices. A settlement was submitted to the  U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in December of 2024, offering to give out $7.8 million of electronic credits. This was denied by the judge this past July, frowning upon Sony's offer of a "coupon set...