Sony Tells California Court $69.99 Game Buyers Do Not Own Digital Downloads
Updated
Updated · Engadget · Sep 1
Sony Tells California Court $69.99 Game Buyers Do Not Own Digital Downloads
3 articles · Updated · Engadget · Sep 1
Summary
Sony’s Aug. 21 court filing says no “reasonable” consumer would think a PlayStation Store purchase conveys ownership, arguing buyers receive only a revocable license to use digital games.
The response targets a class action filed June 18 in California, which alleges Sony’s “Buy” and “purchase” language and point-of-sale disclosures wrongly imply ownership in violation of state law.
Sony argued digital storefronts cannot transfer ownership like physical discs because multiple customers can buy the same title, citing two players who separately bought Resident Evil Requiem for $69.99 in February 2026.
The dispute lands as Sony pushes toward an all-digital PlayStation future from January 2028; it recently emailed customers again that digital games are licensed rather than sold.