Stop Killing Games Supports Dutch Group SM&C in Lawsuit Against Sony

August 14, 2026 - 16:50

A Dutch foundation, Stichting Massaschade & Consument, or SM&C, has taken Sony to court over what it calls excessive pricing on the PlayStation Store. The group filed a collective lawsuit arguing that Sony's 30 percent cut on every digital game sale, plus its control over the entire marketplace, pushes prices far above what they should be. Now the international campaign group Stop Killing Games has stepped in to support the Dutch effort, saying the case could set a major precedent for how digital storefronts are allowed to operate.

The lawsuit claims Sony holds a dominant position in the console market and uses that power to charge unfair fees to developers, which then get passed on to players. SM&C points out that physical games often drop in price after a few months, while digital versions stay at full price for much longer. That gap, the group argues, is not just a business choice but a result of Sony's closed ecosystem. Consumers have no other way to buy PlayStation digital titles, so they are stuck paying whatever Sony decides.

Stop Killing Games, which has been vocal about the broader issue of games being shut down and made unplayable, says this case is about more than just pricing. It is about whether platform holders can act without any real checks. If the Dutch court rules against Sony, it could force the company to change its store policies across Europe. Sony has not yet given a detailed public response, but the case is moving forward and could take months or even years to resolve. For now, the two groups are asking players to share their own purchase records and experiences to help build the evidence base.