Stop Killing Games backs Dutch consumer rights lawsuit against Sony's PlayStation digital store "monopoly"

Stop Killing Games, a grassroots movement advocating against game publishers shutting down servers without alternatives, has allied itself with a legal dispute in the Netherlands against Sony over its alleged digital game store monopoly (per GamesRadar). This lawsuit, initiated in 2025 by the consumer rights organization Stichting Massaschade & Consument, represents 1.7 million Dutch PlayStation users (according to the source).

The Fair PlayStation campaign, launched by SM&C before Sony announced the discontinuation of physical PlayStation discs, now gains renewed attention from the lawsuit. The core contention is that the lack of competition in the digital game market, with Sony as the sole provider on every PlayStation console, is unjust for consumers (per the source).

The video announcing the collaboration between Stop Killing Games and DoesItPlay emphasizes their support for SM&C's case, stating, "We re putting our full weight behind SM&C's case, with the Dutch court" (per the source).

SM&C's argument centers on the end of physical discs, which could leave digital games as the only option for consumers. They claim this would remove a crucial competitive element and potentially eliminate retail stores from the market, as digital becomes the sole purchasing avenue (per the source). Recent Dutch analysis corroborates their claims, revealing that games are often cheaper in physical stores compared to the PlayStation Store (per the source).

Stop Killing Games recently faced a setback in Europe, with the European Commission deciding not to amend legislation to allow games to remain playable after publishers deactivate servers (per the source).