Consumer Group Lists Over 30 Sony Statements on Digital Game Ownership

In August 2026, Sony said a reasonable consumer already understands that they do not truly own the digital goods they pay for. A consumer rights organization has compiled a list of more than 30 instances in which Sony told consumers that paid digital games belonged to them. The list, titled Reference Table of Sony Website Mentions of Owning Digital Games (Non-Exhaustive), collects more than 30 relevant statements from Sony websites, including language such as viewing live streams related to games you own through the game hub, and instructions for switching between PS4 and PS5 versions if you own the same game on both. The list also includes a statement from a Marvel's Wolverine FAQ page: owners of the standard edition can also upgrade to obtain digital deluxe edition content.

A recent class action against Sony states that the PlayStation Store did not clearly inform consumers that a digital purchase is not equivalent to digital ownership. The lawsuit claims that after players complete a transaction on the PlayStation Store, what they buy is only a digital license that can be revoked at any time, and that the purchase does not guarantee permanent access to a game, DLC, or cosmetic item pack. Sony's legal team said the company has not violated any digital ownership law because a reasonable consumer would not be misled by small-print statements on store pages. Before the payment step, the PlayStation Store displays links to the company's terms of service and software product license agreement.

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit claim that Sony violated a California law. That law states that when a seller of digital goods advertises or sells digital goods to a buyer, using the terms purchase, buy, or any expression that a reasonable person would understand as granting unrestricted ownership of the digital goods is unlawful.