Mexican lawmakers target Sony over digital-only PlayStation games plans
Video game giant Sony announced that it would stop producing new physical PlayStation games starting in 2028, which sparked an intense debate about digital ownership. This shift isn’t new to the industry, but a complete move to a digital-only games model by a major player isn’t a small thing.
If Sony can make the move successfully, it’s possible that other companies will follow. Digital game ownership is murky right now, but an Xbox gamer recently sued Microsoft and won, regaining access to their digital game library. Mexican lawmakers are also preparing to take legal action against Sony for its new digital games focus.
Here’s everything you need to know about this.
Sony’s shift toward digital-only games sparks ownership concerns
The community was quick to react to Sony announcing it would stop producing new PlayStation games. This was announced just days after Rockstar launched pre-orders for GTA 6, revealing that the game wouldn’t have disc versions. Both Sony and Rockstar have received backlash for their decision, but players are debating whether anything could be done.
GTA 6 has received massive feedback from fans, reportedly getting billions of dollars from pre-orders. Sony has been silent since the announcement, but it’s unlikely that the company would change its decision.
Many have seen GTA 6’s success and speculated that Sony may also not see financial consequences due to their strategy change. This has increased fears that other gaming companies may also lean towards a digital-focused model.
Two Mexican lawmakers, Federal Representative Iraís Reyes and Senator Luis Donaldo Colosio, have announced they will file a complaint with Mexico’s National Antitrust Commission over the possibility of Sony becoming a monopoly. They argue that digital games will cause ownership issues, as players will get access but won’t actually own the product.
The lawmakers have also expressed fears of the second-hand market and trading ending because of the lack of physical games. Sony hasn’t announced its distribution methods, but it’s likely that games will be sold on the PlayStation Store, and the lawmakers used this as a basis for the argument that games won’t be sold at competitive prices.
Xbox gamer’s case against Microsoft shows risks of digital game ownership
A Brazilian Xbox user revealed that they had lost access to their Microsoft account and subsequently their digital game library after being a victim of hacking. They explained that they had two-factor authentication turned on, but Microsoft Customer Support was no help, even telling them to repurchase their games. This led to the gamer filing a lawsuit against Microsoft and coming out victorious.
The Brazilian court ordered Microsoft to restore the gamer’s access to their Xbox account and digital game library within 14 days or face more penalties. The gamer was also awarded $400 in damages, highlighting Brazil’s strict consumer laws. There has been discussion in the community about whether this case can set a precedent.
Some have cited Brazil’s consumer laws as the reason for the ruling and speculated that the same may not be the case in other jurisdictions.
Microsoft Customer Support telling a gamer to repurchase their games for no fault of their own has validated the fears of many in the community who are worried about losing access to games tied to their accounts.
While the Xbox gamer came out on top, the fact that they had to file a lawsuit signifies that digital game ownership should be taken more seriously.
Featured image credit: Sony
Khizar Mundia has been playing video games for as long as he can recall. Things have come a long way since the many days he spent playing the original NES, though. He now covers a variety of competitive games and esports, as well as the world of streaming, ranging from Twitch to Kick. If it’s of interest to gamers, it’s of interest to Khizar.
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