The Polish Office for Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) has published a preliminary investigation on digital gaming platforms, including Steam and PlayStation Store, for anti-competitive practices.
The regulator revealed that an inspection was carried out at Sony’s headquarters in Polandas well as at two video game developers and publishers not mentioned.
“The digital game distribution market is supplanting traditional sales. Gamers are increasingly less inclined to purchase boxed games, but are sourcing digital copies on online sales platforms. At the same time, we see that there may be restrictive practices on the part of the main operators in this market. For this reason I have launched a preliminary investigation and have had three entrepreneurs inspected. We are currently examining the evidence collected”, declared the President of UOKiK, Tomasz Chróstny.
What will happen now with the Polish investigation
Via the official website, UOKiK states that “the evidence gathered will indicate the possible existence of restrictive practices: Prohibited agreements or abuse of dominant position by video game digital distribution platform providers. Their effect could be the exclusion of competing platforms, the advanced exploitation of video game developers and publishers, and the increase in prices for players.”
“Among these, the application of restrictions on the sale of games and ancillary content on competing platforms or online storesinterfering with the pricing and discounting policies of game developers and publishers, or limiting market access to competing platforms and other digital service providers.”
“The preliminary procedure is conducted on the case itself and not in relation to specific entrepreneurs. If the evidence collected confirms the suspicions, the President of the Authority will initiate antitrust proceedings and will file charges against the individuals. A company involved in an agreement restricting competition risks a fine of up to 10% of its turnover. The executives responsible for ending the collusion also risk a fine of up to 2 million zlotys[ndr, circa 469.000 euro].”
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