PlayStation Antitrust Lawsuit Moves Forward After False Start

Sony Interactive Inc., which notched a preliminary victory against antitrust litigation challenging its restrictions on PlayStation game sales, must now face the consumer case, a federal judge ruled.

Judge Richard Seeborg let the proposed class action move forward Tuesday, about nine months after he tentatively dismissed claims that Sony violated antitrust laws when it began requiring all game sales to go through the PlayStation Store. The company had previously allowed sales by retailers.

It’s plausible Sony “sacrificed short-term profits for long-term gain” by ending profitable retailer relationships in a bid to corner the market, Seeborg wrote. Other potential reasons ...