Earlier this summer, Stop Killing Games collected more than 1.29 million verified signatures on a European Citizens’ Initiative, marched the petition to Brussels, and waited. The European Commission rejected it in June 2026, declining to propose binding legislation. Rather than fold, the movement has pivoted — and now it is taking Sony to court.
Stop Killing Games and preservation group DoesItPlay? announced on 10 August 2026 that they are backing the Fair PlayStation collective lawsuit in the Netherlands. The case, brought by Dutch consumer foundation Stichting Massaschade & Consument (SM&C), accuses Sony of running an illegal monopoly through the PlayStation Store — and is seeking more than $457 million in damages on behalf of an estimated 1.7 million Dutch PlayStation owners.
What the Dutch Lawsuit Actually Claims
The Dutch lawsuit argues that Sony’s decision to allow digital PlayStation games to be sold exclusively through its own storefront has handed it unchecked power over pricing. With no competing digital storefronts available to PlayStation users, SM&C says the company has been free to inflate prices well above what a competitive market would sustain.
The “Sony Tax”: Dutch PlayStation owners pay up to 47% more for digital games compared with physical copies — despite digital distribution costing less to run. Sony’s platform commission of around 30% is passed directly to buyers.
The case covers PS4 and PS5 purchases made through the PlayStation Store since November 2013. A first hearing on jurisdiction and class standing took place on 29 June 2026 under the Netherlands’ WAMCA collective action framework, with a ruling still pending. If SM&C clears that bar, the case moves to the merits stage. Dutch players can register for free through the foundation’s official site.
Beyond monetary damages, the lawsuit is also pushing for greater openness in Sony’s digital marketplace — specifically, real competition to the PlayStation Store.
Why Stop Killing Games Is Joining the Fight
Stop Killing Games began in 2024 as a gaming consumer campaign against publishers who “brick” live-service games after shutting down servers — a practice that leaves paying customers with nothing. Founded by Ross Scott of Accursed Farms, it grew into a broader consumer rights movement and eventually a European Citizens’ Initiative that pulled 1.29 million verified signatures.
The European Commission’s rejection in June 2026 was a blow, but it was not a full stop. Organisers said they would continue pushing through the European Parliament and other legal channels. Backing SM&C’s lawsuit against Sony is the clearest signal yet that Stop Killing Games is expanding from regulatory advocacy into active litigation support.
“SKG and DoesItPlay? are announcing that we’re backing SM&C’s lawsuit against Sony over its total control of PlayStation Store pricing,” the group stated. “We’re putting our full weight behind SM&C’s case, with the Dutch court. Every Dutch gamer who signs on backs it up directly.”
How Sony’s 2028 No-Disc Decision Changed Everything
When Sony announced in July 2026 that it would end physical disc production for all new PlayStation titles starting in January 2028, it transformed what had been a pricing dispute into something more existential. Physical retail had always provided a pressure valve — a second-hand market, a competitive price floor, a genuine alternative to the PlayStation Store. That alternative is now on a countdown.
“No discs means no second-hand market and no alternative to the PlayStation Store,” SM&C said in response to the announcement. “From 2028, Sony alone decides what a game costs and even how long you are allowed to use it.”
For Stop Killing Games, a movement built on the idea that players deserve to keep what they buy, Sony’s move towards a fully digital ecosystem lands squarely in its territory. Ownership, access, and price control are all at stake — and backing the Dutch lawsuit is the group’s way of saying those stakes are worth fighting for in court.
A Growing Legal Front Across Europe and Beyond
The Netherlands case is far from an isolated action against Sony. In the United Kingdom, the PlayStation You Owe Us collective action is seeking between £1.97 and £2 billion on behalf of British PlayStation owners affected by the same closed-ecosystem pricing structure. That trial concluded earlier in 2026, with a judgment expected before the year is out.
In Mexico, lawmakers have submitted a formal complaint to the country’s National Antitrust Commission requesting an investigation into Sony’s physical disc decision. In the United States, the Caccuri case — which focused on Sony halting third-party download code sales — settled for $7.85 million, while a separate suit is challenging the legality of “Buy Now” labelling on digital games that can ultimately be revoked.
To add further consumer pressure, DoesItPlay? is organising a PSBlackout — a week-long protest running from 23 to 30 August 2026 — asking PlayStation owners to power down their consoles and avoid any purchases on Sony platforms during that period.
Stop Killing Games has been at pains to note that the lawsuits are separate efforts it is choosing to support, not campaigns it controls. But the pattern is becoming clear: what started as a petition is becoming a coordinated legal and consumer movement — and Sony is increasingly having to respond to it in courtrooms rather than press releases.