Sony PlayStation could be forced to pay up to £5 billion in damages after the company allegedly overcharged almost nine million UK customers.

The video-game giant is facing a legal claim brought by former managing director of Which? UK Alex Neill, which says that it has breached competition law by unlawfully overcharging its British customers since August 2016.

The claim, filed with the Competition Appeal Tribunal on Friday, accuses Sony of using its dominant position in the games console market to impose unfair terms and conditions on
PlayStation game developers and publishers, which results in “excessive and unfair prices for consumers every time they buy digital games or in-game content from the PlayStation Store”.

It says that this has resulted in Brits being overcharged for their digital gaming purchases by potentially as much as £5 billion over the last six years.

“The game is up for Sony PlayStation," commented Class Representative Alex Neill. “With this legal action I am standing up for the millions of UK people who have been unwittingly overcharged. We believe Sony has abused its position and ripped off its customers.”

She added: “Gaming is now the biggest entertainment industry in the UK, ahead of TV, video and music and many vulnerable people rely on gaming for community and connection. The actions of Sony are costing millions of people who can’t afford it, particularly when we’re in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis and the consumer purse is being squeezed like never before.”

The action states that anyone in the UK who has purchased digital games or add-on content on their console or via the PlayStation Store since 19 August 2016 is included in the claim and is potentially entitled to compensation.

The estimated damages per individual member of the class is between £67 and £562 excluding interest.

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