PS users are renters but charged owners amid Sony complaint

Gaming Giants Face Antitrust Scrutiny Over Physical Disc Sunset

In a move reflecting growing consumer frustration over digital ownership, Mexican lawmakers have taken action against Sony, filing a formal complaint with the National Antitrust Commission regarding the company’s plan to end support for physical games.

Federal Deputy Iraís Reyes and Senator Luis Donaldo Colosio joined forces in an Instagram statement to highlight their concerns. They accused PlayStation of establishing monopolistic conditions by charging customers for ownership while only granting renting rights, effectively stripping consumers of true asset ownership.

The core of the complaint centers on Sony‘s January 2028 deadline for physical game support. The lawmakers argue that locking new games exclusively to the PlayStation Store after this date would grant Sony unprecedented control over pricing and access, eliminating the vital resale market for physical media.

“What you buy digitally isn’t yours,” they argued, noting recent actions where hundreds of digitally owned movies were removed from PlayStation accounts. This move, coupled with the pending shutdown of the PS3 and PlayStation Vita stores that will end new digital purchases in those libraries, further fuels their concerns about consumer rights.

The sentiment expressed by Reyes and Colosio was pointed: “You pay the price of an owner. They give you the rights of a renter.”

This legal push against Sony highlights a larger battle over ownership in the modern gaming landscape. While Sony‘s decision has already drawn legal scrutiny—with some regulators pointing out that companies are free to offer services as they see fit—the complaint aims to establish that this practice crosses the line into monopolistic behavior.

The situation adds another layer of complexity, especially considering recent financial matters. Although PlayStation is reportedly recovering much of its estimated $508 million tariff refund, there are no apparent plans for refunds related to price hikes on recent PS5 units, emphasizing that consumer protection remains a priority despite the ongoing legal challenges.