PS Store gamers would receive less than $2 in Sony's 'coupon' antitrust settlement

New developments in the 2021 PlayStation antitrust case show that both Sony and the defendants are eager to settle the case, but a district judge denies a motion to settle, saying that more information is needed.

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In 2021, Sony was sued in a class-action lawsuit that alleged Sony was conducting monopolistic business practices. The plaintiffs, which include more than 4 million people, allege that Sony's decision to stop selling PlayStation game download codes in alternative stores was in violation of antitrust law.

Years later, the parties are ready to settle, but District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín recently denied a motion for settlement. The initial settlement proposal would see Sony doling out $7.8 million in PlayStation Store credits. With 4.4 million people affected, that means each person would get around $1.77 in credits.

In the ruling, Martinez-Olguin says that Sony's offer is a "coupon settlement," which are typically frowned upon in courts.

Yet the motion was ultimately denied because the plaintiffs didn't offer enough information on how the settlement will actually be carried out, and whether or not the monetary value is fair.

...Cendejas's motion does not provide an estimated recovery or a range of potential recovery for class members. The motion fails to include an estimated recovery had the proposed class prevailed on each claim, and it fails to provide any estimate of the discount applied to the claims.

Moreover, the Settlement calls for Class Members to receive compensation in the form of cash-value PlayStation Network ("PSN") account credits.

The Court views such PSN account credits as settlement coupons, which are generally disfavored. Any renewed motion for preliminary approval must address the propriety of such settlement coupons and whether the value and structure of this settlement remain defensible.

The judge tells plaintiffs to refile a new motion in 30 days, and if that doesn't happen, both plaintiffs and Sony have 45 days to figure out how they want to proceed with the case.

Caccuri v. Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC

• District Court, N.D. California
• Docket Number: 3:21-cv-03361
• Date Filed: May 5, 2021
• Date of Last Known Filing: July 17, 2025
• Cause: 15:2 Antitrust Litigation
• Nature of Suit: 410 Anti-Trust
• Jury Demand: Plaintiff
• Jurisdiction Type: Federal Question