A major opening for PlayStation? Fans hope for Steam on PS6

When buying PlayStation games digitally, customers are almost entirely dependent on the PlayStation Store. Sony has full control over the storefront and decides on discounts on its own. Unlike on PC, PlayStation has no competing platforms such as Steam, the Epic Games Store or GOG – at least for now. The Reddit community is hoping that this could soon change.

Lawsuits in the UK and the Netherlands offer hope

Physical media at least provides a small degree of competition for PlayStation games. Retailers can discount discs, while players can buy, sell or lend used games. From early 2028, however, that will come to an end. Sony will stop producing discs from that point onward – a decision the company does not appear willing to reconsider even in the face of boycott threats from fans. However, there is still hope that this controversial decision could ultimately have a positive consequence for players.

More specifically, that hope comes from the UK and the Netherlands, where lawsuits against Sony are currently underway. In the UK, a class-action lawsuit is seeking nearly £2 billion in damages on behalf of around 12 million PlayStation customers. Sony is accused of exploiting its dominant position in the sale of digital PlayStation content. The "Fair PlayStation" lawsuit in the Netherlands also targets Sony's closed digital ecosystem. Among other things, the plaintiffs criticize the 30% commission on digital sales as well as restrictions that prevent publishers from offering their PlayStation games through competing platforms. They argue that this prevents genuine price competition and forces consumers to pay more.

Fans dream of Steam on the PS6 ...

Fans' hopes are based on comments from lawyer Magdalena Tuliback, who was interviewed by Marketplace on the subject. According to Tuliback, if the lawsuits are successful, Sony could not only face compensation payments but might also be required to open up sales of digital games to third parties.

If PlayStation games could also be sold through other retailers, Sony would no longer have sole control over digital distribution. Competing sellers could lead to more discounts and lower prices for digital games. Some users in the Reddit community are even hoping that Sony could allow entire platforms such as Steam on the PS6.

... but consider third-party download codes more likely

However, whether a successful lawsuit would actually have such far-reaching consequences remains questionable. Many consider the sale of freely discountable download codes through third-party retailers a more likely outcome. Any rulings would also initially apply only in the UK or the Netherlands. However, since successful lawsuits could trigger similar proceedings in other countries, it is conceivable that Sony could implement corresponding changes globally.

In the UK, the trial concluded on May 8, 2026, but a ruling is still pending. The Competition Appeal Tribunal responsible for the case has not yet announced a fixed date for its decision. In the Netherlands, the proceedings are still at an early stage. It must first be determined whether the consumer organization is allowed to represent the affected players and whether the case can proceed on its merits. A quick decision is therefore unlikely. Whether the proceedings will ultimately force Sony to open up its ecosystem remains to be seen – and even if they do, it will likely take some time.