Digital Storefronts
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PS5 Players Could Get Compensation as Sony Slammed for Monopolistic Practices in UK Court
Sony is facing a £2 billion class-action lawsuit in the UK accusing the company of monopolistic practices related to digital game sales on the PlayStation 5. The lawsuit argues that Sony's closed ecosystem unfairly limits consumer choice and could result in compensation for up to 12.2 million UK players if Sony loses. The company defends its model by citing security risks of open storefronts and its low hardware profit margins.
Nintendo "Cagey" About Letting Games On Switch 2, Wants To Avoid "Slop Fest"
Nintendo is reportedly being selective about which games are approved for the Nintendo Switch 2's eShop to prevent it from becoming oversaturated with low-quality titles, unlike the original Switch's eShop. New Blood Interactive CEO Dave Oshry confirmed they have Switch 2 dev kits and are awaiting approval to launch their game, Dusk, which runs at 120fps with mouse controls.
Dev says Nintendo is “still pretty cagey about letting games launch on Switch 2”, doesn’t want it to be “a giant slop fest”
Dave Oshry of New Blood Interactive stated that Nintendo is being selective about which games will launch on the Nintendo Switch 2, aiming to avoid the 'slop fest' of shovelware seen on the original Switch eShop. The company has development kits for the new console and a version of Dusk ready, but is awaiting Nintendo's approval for release.
GTA 6 Pre-Orders Could Open Soon Based on New Store Activity
Internal product identifiers for Grand Theft Auto 6 have appeared in the PlayStation Store backend, suggesting that pre-orders may open soon. While Rockstar Games has not officially confirmed this, such backend activity typically precedes pricing and pre-order options for major titles. The game is officially targeting a 2026 release window.
The Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen Switch re-release is already topping the eShop charts, even as Nintendo mysteriously removes mention of Home compatibility
Despite Nintendo mysteriously removing mentions of Pokémon Home compatibility, Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen re-releases for Nintendo Switch are topping eShop charts. The paid re-releases, priced at $20 each, have sparked debate due to the lack of graphical upgrades and online play, with Home integration being the only potential new feature.
"It needs to cooperate fairly, and it's clearly not." Why Valve is facing a £656m day in the UK courts
A UK court has allowed a class-action lawsuit against Valve to proceed, alleging the company violates competition law through its 30% revenue share on Steam and price parity requirements. Digital safety campaigner Vicki Shotbolt is leading the case, seeking up to £656 million in damages for UK consumers. The lawsuit argues that Valve's practices harm consumers by inflating game prices and limiting developer pricing flexibility.
What if you... listened to Retronauts this week ⊟ - Tiny Cartridge 3DS
The latest Retronauts podcast episode discusses games available on the Wii U and 3DS eShops before their closure. Hosts Eric, Jeremy Parish, and Chris Kohler share recommendations and personal memories of these consoles.