Mexico's "Gamer Congresswoman" takes Sony to court over physical game disc shutdown

Two Mexican lawmakers, Federal Representative Iraís Reyes and Senator Luis Donaldo Colosio, have taken Sony to court over the company's plan to discontinue the sale of physical video game discs by January 2028. The lawmakers, often referred to as the "gamer congresswoman", filed an antitrust complaint with the country's antitrust regulator, COFECE, alleging that Sony's shift to digital-only sales violates Mexico's Federal Economic Competition Law.

They argue that the move would grant Sony monopolistic control over PS5 game distribution through the PlayStation Store, potentially leading to higher game prices, reduced competition, and the elimination of the used games market, which is popular in Mexico and other countries. The lawmakers also contend that the digital-only approach would erode software ownership, forcing consumers to purchase restricted licenses, and would leave developers, publishers, and studios entirely dependent on Sony's distribution network.

This would allow the company to impose unfair terms and conditions, charge high platform commissions, and disproportionately affect independent developers. The complaint is part of a growing trend as lawmakers, antitrust regulators, and consumer advocacy groups worldwide challenge Sony's decision. Similar lawsuits have been filed by Dutch consumer organization SMC and groups in Brazil, France, and the Netherlands.

While the EU has effectively conceded the matter, it cannot legally prevent Sony from phasing out physical game discs due to commercial and contractual freedoms.