Game Console Giants Fight Consumer Lawsuits Over Tariff Refunds

Game console giants Sony and Microsoft are seeking dismissal of class action lawsuits filed against them by consumers. The suits allege that price hikes for PlayStation 5 and Xbox consoles in 2025 were driven by unlawful tariffs, which have since been declared illegal by the US Supreme Court.

The plaintiffs claim that they are owed refunds as a result of these tariff increases. However, Sony and Microsoft argue that there is no legal obligation to pass on tariff refunds to consumers.

Sony's attorneys contend that price hikes were due to factors such as inflation, exchange rates, component costs, logistics, market competition, and consumer demand, rather than tariffs. They point out that the company has continued to raise hardware prices after the Supreme Court's decision on tariffs.

Microsoft similarly sought case dismissal in a separate legal filing, stating that there is nothing unfair about consumers buying consoles at listed prices, regardless of later claims about pricing strategy. Nintendo also filed for dismissal of a class action lawsuit, arguing that consumers had options to refrain from purchasing or explore alternatives instead of accepting listed prices.