If people actually read the claims... it's about fair business practices, this is why they are suing Sony:

> ... In the EU, it is forbidden for large companies to abuse their position to make more profit at the expense of consumers. Yet Sony does not fully abide by these rules. > > If you buy a digital game or in-game content, Sony will only ensure that you can do so through its own PlayStation Store. Sony keeps the market to itself in this way and can keep prices artificially high. This way you pay more, without getting anything extra in return. This is called the “Sony Tax.”

This is not a lawsuit about Sony "taking away my discs", it's something like "Sony allegedly used its control over the PlayStation ecosystem to restrict competition in digital distribution, allowing it to keep prices artificially high and harm consumers".

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keoneflick 3 hours ago | parent | next [-]

> Sony does not fully abide by these rules. If you buy a digital game or in-game content, Sony will only ensure that you can do so through its own PlayStation Store.

I have assumed that retail locations will continue to sell game codes, just not game disks, post disks going away. Currently there are games from like Just Dance that only include a game code in the retail box rather than game CD because of the way the game works (you're buying a dlc more than a game).

Maybe I'm wrong, but I would be surprised if PlayStation completely goes away from retail, for reasons including anti-trust, but also to encourage stocking the physical PS6 console.

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axus 3 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Unlike a disc, you can't use the code without going through the PlayStation Store. And you likely cannot resell it, either.

You can't buy a non-Sony PlayStation, I guess they'll argue it's similar.

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derektank an hour ago | parent [-]

It does seem like a reasonable middle ground would be something like selling a dongle that provides PIV attestation of ownership, that could be resold and could even be used across platforms. Of course, there’s no incentive for the console manufacturers to offer this.

	▲	llukas 14 minutes ago \| parent \| next [-]
		Game cartridges but with TPM inside? What is not to like?
	▲	axus an hour ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		That would be kind of impressive if Sony had a "used digital games" marketplace and took a cut of every trade, without sending any to the publisher.

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CivBase 2 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Why on earth would I go to a game store to buy a code?

	▲	keoneflick 14 minutes ago \| parent [-]
		Because they have a better price?

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andai an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

So it's surprising to me that this is against the law.

Is it an EU law, or a Dutch one?

Does that mean this also applies to Apple, Steam, etc.?

	▲	HDBaseT an hour ago \| parent [-]
		The argument is that on PlayStation, the only option you have going forward is via the 'PlayStation Store'. Previously, you could buy a physical disc from GameStop, Walmart or trade with your friend. Now you are locked into one company. This isn't about digital or physical, its about there only being one option. Your question drags in Steam (Valve) but I question how they operate even remotely like this? You can build or buy any PC, install Steam on it, or not. You can download games from 30 different platforms, including DRM free ones. You can still purchase some (albeit limited) games on disc from other retailers. You are by no means REQUIRED to use Steam. You can use any hardware (not just Valve hardware) and use any store. How does this relate?

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IshKebab 3 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Hmm but when that argument was applied to phones, Android essentially got punished for being more open than Apple - you actually can have other app stores on Android, therefore Google could be held accountable for anti-competitive actions in the Android app marketplace. Whereas Apple doesn't allow any third party app stores so there's no competition in the first place and they're fine!

Retarded logic but I feel like if you apply the same logic to Sony, they'll also be fine.

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braiamp 2 hours ago | parent [-]

What the heck are you talking about? Both Apple and Google were hit by the EU anti-gatekeeping law. I am not going to engage with the rest since it's based on a supposition that is plainly wrong.

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ekianjo 2 hours ago | parent [-]

So Apple in the EU allows for alternative app stores?

	▲	choo-t 2 hours ago \| parent \| next [-]
		Yes, with some caveat ("notarization" and "core technology fee").
	▲	vrganj an hour ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		Yup. https://rileytestut.com/blog/2024/04/17/introducing-altstore...