Mexican Lawmakers Move to Challenge Sony Over Potential PlayStation Store Monopoly

According to LevelUp, lawmakers Iraís Reyes and Senator Luis Donaldo Colosio of the Movimiento Ciudadano party plan to submit the complaint before Mexico’s Federal Economic Competition Commission (COFECE) as private citizens and video game consumers rather than in their official legislative capacities. LevelUp reporter Ulises Contreras reported that the filing is intended to examine whether Sony’s business strategy could ultimately leave the PlayStation Store as the only effective marketplace for purchasing new PlayStation games.

The initiative follows Sony’s recently announced plan to end production of physical PlayStation game discs beginning in 2028, accelerating a broader industry shift toward digital distribution. Critics of the move argue that the disappearance of physical releases would eliminate alternative purchasing options, including major retailers and the second-hand market.

According to LevelUp, Reyes argued that if physical games disappear, PlayStation owners would no longer be able to compare prices among retailers and would instead be required to purchase titles through Sony’s own digital storefront. Colosio reportedly said that such a change would also undermine game resale and trading markets that have historically provided lower-cost alternatives for consumers.

The lawmakers are asking regulators to determine whether Sony’s simultaneous control of console hardware, digital distribution and storefront operations could amount to excessive market concentration. The complaint reportedly argues that Sony could become both platform operator and sole distributor within its ecosystem, potentially affecting consumers and competing businesses.

The issue mirrors legal and regulatory challenges Sony is facing elsewhere. In the Netherlands, a collective action involving approximately 1.7 million PlayStation users alleges that Sony’s control over digital distribution has resulted in higher prices for games sold through the PlayStation Store. Plaintiffs in that case argue that PlayStation users have paid significantly more for digital titles because competing storefronts are not permitted on Sony’s platform.

Read more: Sony Fights $2.7 Billion London Lawsuit Alleging PlayStation Store Monopoly

Sony has also faced legal action in the United Kingdom, where a multibillion-pound class action claims the company abused a dominant position by charging excessive commissions and maintaining exclusive control over digital PlayStation game sales. Similar allegations were raised in the United States, where Sony agreed to a $7.85 million settlement in litigation concerning restrictions on third-party sales of digital game vouchers. Sony has denied wrongdoing in those proceedings.

Competition concerns surrounding digital platforms have increasingly attracted regulatory attention globally. Policymakers in several jurisdictions have examined whether vertically integrated technology companies can use control over digital ecosystems to limit competition or increase barriers to entry for rivals. Academic research on digital markets has highlighted growing concerns regarding platform gatekeepers and the concentration of market power within integrated digital ecosystems.

According to LevelUp, the Mexican lawmakers also raised concerns regarding digital ownership, arguing that consumers who purchase digital games generally obtain licenses rather than permanent ownership of physical products. The issue has become increasingly prominent as entertainment companies shift toward subscription and digital distribution models.

Sony has not publicly responded to the planned Mexican filing. Any formal investigation would depend on whether COFECE determines that the complaint warrants further review under Mexico’s competition laws. For now, the proposed filing represents one of the first governmental efforts to examine the competition implications of Sony’s transition away from physical game distribution and toward a fully digital PlayStation marketplace.

Source: LevelUp