Once a champion for physical media, Sony is now telling PlayStation customers they don’t actually own the digital video games they paid $70 for
A class action lawsuit filed in June alleges the PlayStation maker did not properly disclose that paying for a downloadable game is different than owning it.
Sony, once a champion of physical media, now informs PlayStation users that they do not actually own the digital video games they pay $70 for, according to a class action lawsuit filed in California. Four plaintiffs claim Sony did not clearly disclose that paying for a downloadable game grants only a license, not ownership, violating a 2024 California law.
Sony argues its terms of service and end user license agreement make it clear that digital games are purchased, not owned, and that customers unambiguously agreed to these terms. Sony is not the only company facing scrutiny over digital media ownership; GameStop also faces a lawsuit over a similar issue. PlayStation's plan to cease physical disc production by 2028 aligns with consumer preference for digital media, but some young people are turning to physical media for the assurance of ownership, despite its convenience.
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