1 hours ago
Sony and Microsoft say they are not obligated to return the money to customers after illegally returning tarif
Sony and Microsoft say they are not obligated to return the money to customers after illegally returning tariffs to the United States.
In 2025, both companies raised their console prices, and now that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled the tariffs illegal, Sony expects to receive about $508 million in compensation from the state, with the bulk of that going to the gaming division.
The buyers filed a class action lawsuit claiming that Sony and Microsoft could actually get the money twice: first by raising PS5 and Xbox prices, and then by reimbursing the state's tariffs.
Sony disagrees with this. The company claims that the buyers paid the market price voluntarily and got exactly what they bought. In addition, Sony's lawyers claim that there is no evidence that the PS5 price increase in August 2025 was caused by tariffs: inflation, exchange rates, components, logistics, competition and demand could have influenced the price.
Microsoft uses almost the same argument: the plaintiffs have not proven what part of the Xbox's rise in price was tied to the tariffs or whether there was any direct calculation of the tariffs → price increases.
Sony makes another argument: in the spring of 2026, the company raised prices for the PS5 again after the tariffs were declared illegal. According to its lawyers, this shows that prices depend on many factors, not just tariffs.
Nintendo has taken a similar stance before, and there are no court decisions on any of these cases yet.
Playdate, a Panic company, has already promised to pass on the tariffs to its customers so far, it is the only game iron manufacturer to publicly announce such a move. #game
In 2025, both companies raised their console prices, and now that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled the tariffs illegal, Sony expects to receive about $508 million in compensation from the state, with the bulk of that going to the gaming division.
The buyers filed a class action lawsuit claiming that Sony and Microsoft could actually get the money twice: first by raising PS5 and Xbox prices, and then by reimbursing the state's tariffs.
Sony disagrees with this. The company claims that the buyers paid the market price voluntarily and got exactly what they bought. In addition, Sony's lawyers claim that there is no evidence that the PS5 price increase in August 2025 was caused by tariffs: inflation, exchange rates, components, logistics, competition and demand could have influenced the price.
Microsoft uses almost the same argument: the plaintiffs have not proven what part of the Xbox's rise in price was tied to the tariffs or whether there was any direct calculation of the tariffs → price increases.
Sony makes another argument: in the spring of 2026, the company raised prices for the PS5 again after the tariffs were declared illegal. According to its lawyers, this shows that prices depend on many factors, not just tariffs.
Nintendo has taken a similar stance before, and there are no court decisions on any of these cases yet.
Playdate, a Panic company, has already promised to pass on the tariffs to its customers so far, it is the only game iron manufacturer to publicly announce such a move. #game