Sony to pay $7.85 million in PlayStation Store settlement: Eligible users and other details to know

Sony Interactive Entertainment is set to pay $7.85 million as part of a proposed settlement in a class-action lawsuit in the United States, says a CNET report. The case, which is still awaiting final court approval, alleges that Sony’s decision to stop selling game-specific vouchers led to higher prices for customers buying games through the PlayStation Store. The case includes both PlayStation-exclusive titles and third-party games. While Sony has denied any wrongdoing, the court has given preliminary approval to the settlement, opening the door for eligible users to receive compensation. The case, Caccuri, et al. v. Sony Interactive Entertainment, LLC, claimed that Sony “unlawfully eliminated competition and monopolized the market for [its] digital games.” According to the lawsuit, this move forced customers to buy games only through the PlayStation Store, which may have led to higher prices for certain titles.The complaint said these actions caused “consumers to pay more for certain digital games than they otherwise would have paid.” Sony has denied the claims made in the lawsuit. The company said it did not engage in any unlawful activity and that customers were not harmed by its actions.As mentioned before, the court has not made a final decision on whether Sony violated any laws. However, it has preliminarily approved the $7.85 million settlement.Not all PlayStation users will qualify for the payout. The settlement applies only to users who meet certain conditions. To be eligible, users must:It must be noted that eligible users are automatically included in the settlement and do not need to file a claim.Most eligible users will receive their share of the settlement directly in their PlayStation Network wallet. Users who have deactivated their accounts can still apply by submitting proof of purchase. In such cases, payments will be made in cash instead of wallet credits.The final payout amount per user has not been disclosed yet.