Sony has argued that PlayStation users have only ever licensed digital games rather than owned them outright, as the company faces legal action over its digital storefront wording.
PlayStation has argued that customers do not technically own the digital games they purchase, as Sony pushes back against a class action lawsuit challenging the language used on the PlayStation Store.
The legal dispute comes as Sony prepares to end production of physical PlayStation game discs for new releases from 2028, a decision that has sparked widespread criticism from gamers and industry figures concerned about ownership, preservation and long-term access.
Sony previously described the move as a response to changing consumer habits, saying digital media now represents the dominant way people access entertainment.
However, critics have argued that moving away from physical releases reduces consumer control over purchased content.
A class action lawsuit filed by four PlayStation users claims Sony’s digital store misleads customers by using terms such as “buy” and “purchase” when users are actually receiving a limited licence to access games.
The lawsuit argues: “Reasonable consumers are misled into believing that purchasing a digital game through PlayStation confers an unrestricted ownership interest.”
Sony has rejected those claims, arguing that its existing agreements make the situation clear.
According to the company, the PlayStation Software License Product Agreement and Terms of Service explain that games are licensed rather than sold.
Buried within the lengthy legal agreements, Sony states that “software is licensed to you, not sold” and that “virtual content is licensed, not owned”.
The company argues these disclosures mean reasonable consumers would understand the limitations of digital purchases.
The lawsuit now centres on whether those warnings are sufficiently visible and understandable at the time of purchase. Sony must demonstrate that the information is “accessible and obvious” rather than hidden within lengthy terms and conditions.
The dispute arrives amid growing concerns about digital ownership across the entertainment industry.
Earlier this year, Sony removed hundreds of films from PlayStation libraries after licensing agreements expired, prompting criticism from preservation advocates.
Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima described the wider move towards digital-only media as “frightening”, warning that consumers could lose access to content they believe they own.
Meanwhile, a petition calling on Sony to continue supporting physical games has attracted hundreds of thousands of signatures, while some fans have organised protests and boycotts against PlayStation.
PlayStation argues that players never really owned their games
