​The Competition Council announced on Monday that it has opened an investigation into possible abuse of Sony’s dominant position in the distribution market for video games for PlayStation consoles.

PlayStation SonyPhoto: Joeri Mostmans / Dreamstime.com

The Romanian authorities say they are investigating possible competition violations by Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe Limited and its subsidiaries Sony Interactive Entertainment Network Europe Limited and Sony Interactive Entertainment Direct Europe Limited – collectively known as Sony – in the PlayStation video game distribution market. console

What the Competition Council suspects

  • “The competition authority has indications that Sony may have abused its dominant position in the video game market by selling online video games compatible with PlayStation consoles exclusively through the PlayStation Store platform and by prohibiting the sale of activation codes for PlayStation compatible video games. consoles from competing distributors.
  • This practice would reduce the ability to purchase video games compatible with the PlayStation, leading to higher prices for video games for this type of console. Another consequence of this practice is that it prevents Romanian studios from developing PlayStation-compatible video games.” supports the Competition Council.

How many video game studios will be affected: 1.3 million users of video games on consoles in Romania

According to the competition authority, Romanian gamers prefer consoles of the Sony PlayStation brand. According to public information, there are approximately 1.3 million console video game users and 127 video game development studios in Romania that will be affected by this possible anti-competitive action. Sony practices.

As part of this investigation, the Competition Council carried out inspections at Sony’s premises in Europe to gather information and evidence.

Inspections are justified by the need to obtain all the information and documents necessary to clarify the possible anti-competitive actions being analyzed. This does not prejudge the guilt of the companies.

Photo credit: Joeri Mostmans / Dreamstime.com