Mexican Lawmakers Prepare Legal Challenge Against Sony for Shift to Digital-Only Games

Sony shocked the entire industry by announcing it would also stop producing new physical games in 2028. This led to massive outrage, with some wondering if any legal action could be taken against the game company. Mexican lawmakers think they have a chance, as they are challenging Sony’s digital shift.

Sony May Have the Legal Advantage, but Recent Cases Show Consumers Are Pushing Back on Digital Ownership

Reports indicate that Federal Representative Iraís Reyes and Senator Luis Donaldo Colosio will approach Mexico’s National Antitrust Commission to investigate whether Sony’s move constitutes anti-competitive behavior. Reyes stated that players will no longer have the choice to decide where to buy their games if discs disappear. The filing alleges that ending physical games would affect price competition as players would have to buy through the PlayStation Store. Fears that game ownership would be affected and second-hand game markets would die were also expressed by Senator Luis Donaldo Colosio. 

PlayStation owners and other gamers have commented on the lawsuit, with many claiming that it will go nowhere. They claim that Sony is changing its business and not affecting the public, so the community may not agree with the move, but it may not break any laws. Digital distribution of media is becoming normal in the industry, and it makes sense that Sony would try to cut costs. However, others argue that by purchasing a digital license, gamers would be at the mercy of the company and could lose access to their account or games.

A Brazilian citizen went through something similar with Microsoft when they lost access to their account and digital game library. The gamer was told nothing could be done, and they would have to repurchase their games. This led to a lawsuit being filed, and a Brazilian court found in favor of the gamer, ordering Microsoft to reinstate their access to the account and digital library. 

The current industry discussion isn’t just about Sony’s being in legal trouble, but also about games becoming increasingly tied to accounts. This changes how ownership works with games, as players have access rather than a physical product. Many physical discs are also digital licenses rather than the game itself, which changes things substantially. In China, a court has ruled that a game account can be inherited by heirs in case of death. This showcases that digital assets are being treated as having real-world value.