A Dutch class action lawsuit has accused Sony of “abusing its dominant position in the console market” and artificially inflating prices of software on the PS Store.

The case filed in the Netherlands by non-profit firm Stichting Massaschade & Consument claims it’s acting on the behalf of 1.7 million Dutch players.

It essentially argues that with the PS5 generation, the Japanese giant has pushed players into a digital-only ecosystem, where it has a monopoly on the sale of software through the PS Store.

It’s worth noting at this point that, while digital-only consoles have become more prevalent over the past few years, it’s still possible to purchase a PS5 with a disc drive. Moreover, optional disc drive accessories are available for systems that don’t come with one included.

Stichting Massaschade & Consument’s chair Lucia Melcherts said:

“Many people have noticed they’re increasingly being pushed towards ‘digital-only’ consoles since the arrival of the latest PS5 generation. These consoles work exclusively with digital games rather than physical discs. Yet economic research shows that consumers pay on average 47% more for a digital version of a game compared to an identical physical copy – even though Sony’s distribution costs are significantly lower.”

Melcherts added that “more than 80% of Dutch console owners use a PlayStation [so] Sony is free to make decisions with little regard for competitors, developers, or consumers”.

In addition to impacting customers, the lawsuit argues that Sony’s closed ecosystem is limiting the commercial freedom of developers. As far as we understand it, indie devs and third-party publishers are free to price their products as they please, although planned discounts must be aligned with promotional campaigns on the PS Store.

Either way, Stichting Massaschade & Consument is seeking damages in the Netherlands of up to €435 million (~$508 million), with a first hearing set to take place later this month.

Honestly, we’re not sure how far this is going to go. Considering it is still perfectly possible to purchase physical games on the PS5, we’re not convinced the premise of this case has any real weight.