Gamers angry over PS5 price increase sue Sony after Supreme Court rejects tariffs

Following the U.S. Supreme Court striking down IEEPA tariffs, some gamers are seeking compensation. The latest class-action lawsuit targets Sony over revenue generated by the PS5 price increase. If successful, any consumer who purchased a PlayStation console after August 1st, 2025, could receive monetary relief.

Could PS5 owners see tariff refunds?

Law360 summarized the case filed recently in a California federal court. The plaintiffs, Amorey Walker and Bryce Foster-Quarles, demand assurance that buyers will be reimbursed:

Unless restrained by this court, Sony stands to recover the same tariff payments twice - once from consumers through higher prices and again from the federal government through tariff refunds, including interest paid by the government on those refunds.

In 2025, the U.S. government began charging foreign manufacturers additional fees for selling products in the country. After legal challenges, in February 2026, the Supreme Court determined that tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) were illegal. Companies can request refunds, but it’s unclear whether Sony has taken action.

Complicating matters, not all the PS5 price increases have resulted from duties on imported goods. Sony explained that the first adjustment in August 2025 was due to difficult economic conditions and rising manufacturing costs. It didn’t mention the IEEPA tariffs, but most analysts assumed they were a major factor.

Nintendo faces its own lawsuits

The most recent, even steeper price hike for the PS5 and PS5 Pro was largely driven by component shortages. Record-high storage and memory prices have also prompted Microsoft and Nintendo to charge more for their consoles.

Nintendo has been more proactive in pursuing refunds from the U.S. government. Nevertheless, its efforts didn’t stop individuals from making complaints against the Mario-maker. Similar to the Sony lawsuit, they are seeking restitution for a more expensive Switch handheld and accessories.

The California federal court has scheduled an initial procedural hearing for August 3rd. There are concerns that the plaintiff's claims may be premature. Still, Walker and Foster-Quarles hope to score a victory for increasingly budget-challenged gamers.