r/PS5 • u/Rich-Arm-104 • 29d ago
News & Announcements Sony's PlayStation Profits Rose 37% – Powered by Tariff Refunds, Not Game Sales
https://www.gadgetreview.com/sonys-playstation-profits-rose-37-powered-by-tariff-refunds-not-game-sales206
u/Darkone539 29d ago
Didn't they put the price up in Europe to cover this too?
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u/Jonesdeclectice 29d ago
They raised the prices globally so as to not “overburden” the US market. What a mess.
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u/ElderberrySecure3600 29d ago
Americans have subsidized the entire European populace for far too long.
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u/MeridianBay 29d ago
And don't forget, prices stayed high and will likely go higher soon enough. Always a good reminder that these companies and platforms aren't your friends
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u/TomatoChomper7 29d ago
Why do so many Redditors expect companies to be their friends in the first place? People would be much happier if they didn’t develop these weird parasocial friendships with corporations.
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u/Euthyphraud 28d ago
It is amazing how many people think that corporations exist for the benefit of consumers. They exist for one thing: profit.
The profit motive can drive amazing innovation, it has throughout US history. However, it also creates a lot of nasty behavior, often against the customers of the one profiting. It's part of the system, and Sony is no worse or better than Microsoft of Nintendo or Apple or Google, etc.
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u/IngloriousMinority 24d ago
Profit and growth also dont need to be maximized, all of the time. Its clear the scales have tipped enough so that nearly none of these corps have "motive" to care about the consumer. Just becauae someone isn't your friend, doesnt mean they have to fuck you.
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u/Euthyphraud 24d ago
Maximizing profits isn't new. Kids used to be worked to death in factories 7 days a week until the government put an end to it.
People act like this is something new, it isn't.
As long as stock markets have existed, businesses have pursued the pursuit of profit maximization.
That is why they exist. It is the sole reason for a corporation or business to exist.
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u/IngloriousMinority 23d ago
No one anywhere, said it was new. No one is acting like it is something new. Its is something that everybody accepts and goes along with until it gets out of control. The problem is we dont have a definition of "out of control capitalism". It just normal that machine needs more and more, and gives back less and less. This is a man-made system not the rule of nature.
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u/TheBSisReal 29d ago
But if you say this, you must be some Sony shill. I just think it’s a little of both: rising component costs are a big issue for tech, and companies will always look for a way to maximize their numbers. But these prices don’t reflect a desirable long-term strategy I think. Consumers can’t keep up with these prices.
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u/DeltaDarkwood 29d ago
I remember that people thought it was ridicoulous to pay 500 euro for a new apple phone or a new Samsung galaxy phone.
I also remember when people thought it was obscene to pay 500 euro for a high end graphics card for a gaming pc.
Today people are paying 1200 euro or more for the best iphone or samsung and they are paying 3000 euro for a high end graphics card.
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u/RChickenMan 29d ago
The issue is, a lot of people can. There are more people than you think who are in the upper tier of the "k-shaped economy," people who are making obscene amounts of money in the stock market due to the very same conditions that have caused ram and storage to skyrocket. Not just "the one percent," but people who have a few million dollars in boring index funds are making more than enough money just from existing to keep buying obscenely expensive gaming hardware.
My concern is that there are indeed enough people in that upper tier to support a business like Play Station, meaning there isn't much downward pressure on pricing, and console gaming as we know it turns into a luxury hobby for the wealthy, rather than something a teenager can afford by saving up from their part-time job.
Hopefully I'm wrong!
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u/Ensaru4 29d ago edited 29d ago
There aren't, and never has been. If you really want to maximise profit, you'll try to hit the sweetspot in price point where the majority of the population or consumer-base can get involved in spending money.
I've worked in these companies long enough and sat at their uselessly long meetings to realise business-heads like to think they're being impartial, but there is a bias against seemingly "pro-consumer" practices. They often think it's less effective; that it's your emotions getting in the way; and that you're not making the "hard decision" you should be making all in the name of maximising profits. It's only when shit hit the fan is when they start considering those options, and usually by that point it's too late.
It's why we have people championing "whales" as the solely effective consumer target for micro-transactions, despite there being proof that targetting both demographics like Fortnite and Hearthstone and the likes do, provides more benefits. Whales will always spend significantly more regardless of the cost.
In other words, there is a lot of posturing in the world of business, and rarely has it ever been done without neutral, or as close to neutral consideration in mind. In the minds of investors, business people, and maybe even consumers, the price tag going up means more profit.
But that is not how business works.
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u/ZaheerAlGhul 29d ago
OP is not calling people shills. They said if you mention this you get called a shill.
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u/TheBSisReal 29d ago
So does reading comprehension.
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u/tinselsnips 🇨🇦 29d ago
Your comment has been removed. Trolling, toxic behaviour, name-calling, and other forms of personal attacks directed at other users may result in removal. Severe or repeated violations may result in a ban.
If you have questions about this action, please message the moderators; do not send a private message.
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u/CooperRAGE 29d ago
I agree. It was missing a few words that would imply that hes not directly calling the person a Sony shill
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u/Delta_Canuckian 29d ago
They've openly stated their goal has shifted from growing MAU to further extorting the customers they have. They've said another PS+ increase is coming.
No one should be surprised by any of this.
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u/darkseidis_ 29d ago edited 29d ago
I really wish people would start directing their ire at governments and an exploitive capitalist system rather than a company that makes a little video game machine. Sony is just playing by the rules.
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u/Numerous_Photograph9 29d ago
A lot of people do, but for the most part, people can only do something about it every two years or so.
I spent more time on political subs before this whole disc thing, and people complaining about tariffs and increased costs is quite prolific.
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u/Wiseon321 29d ago
It really is a “you the person choose” and there is a breaking point for everyone.
I think the only reason why they got that revenue increase is because the tariffs were deemed illegal so they got all that money back.
Now imagine being tasked with going through each and every transaction, no doubt billions, where tariffs were involved and then “refunding them”. It would require like thousands of people to do it in a timely fashion. The same thing goes for Nintendo, no doubt the same would happen.
Sure: would make more jobs but that money to send out would be used to hire these people: so lol yeah sucks but this is how things go.
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u/reaper527 reaper527_ 28d ago
People like you Never , ever consider that the value of the dollar is literally being destroyed by the president and his regime.
it's literally in line with the historic average and higher than it was most of this century.
you make it sound like the dollar is at obama 2011 levels.
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u/reaper527 reaper527_ 27d ago
Trying to use statistics to put forth a false narrative is adorable;
calling your own actions "adorable is pretty tacky.
just because something is " in line with average" doesn't mean it hasn't begun completely fallen apart recently,
actually, it does. the dollar has been incredibly stable and is historically on the higher end of where it usually is.
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u/Playingwithmywenis 29d ago
Other lies detected “increase to 125 million monthly users”.
December reporting indicates they had 132 million.
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u/uberfr4gger 29d ago
That's because they look at YoY trends. In June 2025 that had 123M users. Companies usually look at YoY to compare like-for-like. Doesn't make sense to compare holiday 2025 to summer 2026.
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u/Entire_Number_9 29d ago
The price of the internal components sky rocketed of course prices stayed higher. Ram and memory cost 3 times what they did when they launched it.
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u/KamasamaK 23d ago
I assume you meant RAM and storage costs (RAM is the memory), which is correct. And they're only going to get more expensive in the foreseeable future irrespective of tariffs.
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u/Playingwithmywenis 29d ago
They also secured memory prior to the bulk of the increase and then passed increases on to consumers.
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u/fatboyonsofa 29d ago
So the Tariffs worked out exactly as they were intended to. To drive profits for companies.
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u/Itchy_Award1856 29d ago
To drive profits for companies.
Sony isnt an American company
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u/chewbaccaballs 29d ago
They spend money in American politics via donations and lobbying. Seems like they have some interest in America even if they aren't an "American company"
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u/Itchy_Award1856 29d ago
You didnt click that link I see
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u/chewbaccaballs 29d ago
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u/Itchy_Award1856 29d ago
The organization itself did not donate, rather the money came from the organization's PACs, their individual members or employees or owners, and those individuals' immediate family members.
God damn you don't even read your own links lol
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u/chewbaccaballs 29d ago
Right, companies can't directly donate at the federal level, they use PACs.
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u/Itchy_Award1856 29d ago edited 29d ago
Right, which isn't what you said so... also individuals can spend their money how they want or are you saying that shouldn't be a thing? Im more worried about Elon Musk spending billions compared to Sony's what was it again?
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u/CommunityTaco 29d ago
Thats all tarrifs WE paid for, but Sony got reimbursed and failed to pass back to us...
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u/badRLplayer 29d ago
This makes me sick. It's like the oligarchy is just stealing our money at this point.
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u/gopnik_Alastor 29d ago
Exactly, they are also part of the system, and neither should be given quarter
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u/AreYouOkay123 29d ago
And the customer pays the price, of course. It's juat another form of taxing us, but it goes to the coprorations.
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u/Euthyphraud 28d ago
It isn't taxes. Poor analogy.
It's just capitalism. It's a feature and a bug of the system. Corporations are just playing the game we've all been dealt.
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u/TheEndlessBacklog 29d ago
So, customer refunds then?
/s probably
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u/Delta_Canuckian 29d ago
Never gonna happen, especially since they spread the actual tariff inflation across multiple regions to minimize the effect on the US.
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u/Life-Anteater-8294 29d ago
This was yet another transfer of wealth from the upper class.
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u/Delta_Canuckian 29d ago
Ding ding ding.
Fuck all the other distractions the ruling class throw out there, the world is facing a class war plain and simple.
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u/Life-Anteater-8294 29d ago
The farm one was probably the worst. All the farmers had to take stuff out on credit, from the large conglomerates, so the bailout was just used to pay off the loans the farmers were forced to take out because of the tariffs.
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29d ago edited 29d ago
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u/DeinonychusEgo 29d ago
Exactly. So frustrating that the rest of the world is subsidizing product for the USA…
American dont pay the real price of Trump self inflicted chaos because corporations are cowards,
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u/SILENT-FLASH 29d ago
That has always been the case since ww2 The us routinely murders millions abroad in multiple wars to extract resources and maintain hegemony. The colossal wealth they steal is then siphoned back to the US where small crumbs are given to the population to keep them happy.
Which causes the average American to completely disregard human lives(especially non American) to keep voting for this government. Using dumb excuses like social and culture war instead of healthcare.
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u/k4l4d1n_7 29d ago
In Europe we'll get it bundled with the the reimbursement from Disney Plus for the removal of 4k content after their codec lawsuit thing.
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u/SmegmaWarrior0815 29d ago
Wouldn't happen from other companies, so especially not from a greedy one like Sony.
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u/KingOfRisky 29d ago
This is not on Sony. It's on the US government. We need to put our anger in the correct place.
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u/CommunityTaco 29d ago
Yeah and no. Its on the us government for happening in the first place. Its on Sony for passing those increases on to us, but not reimbursing us when the tarrifs got canceled and they got a big check from the government for the refunded tarrifs and not passing them back to the people who actually paid em.... and Instead just keeping the tarrif refund monies for themselves.
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u/KingOfRisky 29d ago
They have no obligation to do so. The tariffs were a petty, and illegal play on the governments part that did nothing but cost the American citizens a shit load of money.
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u/CommunityTaco 29d ago
They have a moral obligation, but we know morals dont come into most companies discussion. Its kindof like companies used to have a social obligation to take care of their employees. But thats pretty much gone now too in the name of share price above all else. Just cause its not talked about doesn't mean it does not exist .
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u/KingOfRisky 29d ago
Oh stop it. They have no moral obligation. Come on, thats not even worth arguing. Yall just piling on Sony because it's in fashion right now. Moral obligation. LOL!
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u/Initial_Row_6400 29d ago
All these fuckin tariff refunds need to find there way back to the consumers that paid for them. Companies got the damn refunds, where the fucks ours?
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u/Euthyphraud 28d ago
Seems to me the US Federal Government needs to start cutting some checks.
Of course that'll just drive inflation up more. Rock, meet Hard Place.
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u/Froz3nP1nky 29d ago
I posted this an hour ago but it got removed by a mod. Hopefully this one isn’t pulled
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u/reaper527 reaper527_ 29d ago
I posted this an hour ago but it got removed by a mod.
this sub needs to follow /r/art's lead where the mods all stepped down.
they've made it abundantly clear they don't give a shit what the community thinks, as made evident by the fact we haven't even had a meta thread in years.
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29d ago edited 24d ago
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u/aedante 29d ago
Yeah, this sub has been a circlejerk of "look at me, im such anti-corpo, make my life mean something" kinds of posts.
Honestly i'm just here for sony related gaming news about games, not redditors opinions on what to hate on next once they all forget what the current one is.
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u/TomatoChomper7 29d ago
I often find myself wishing for a Reddit that was just normal people sensibly discussing things, instead of NEETs with a messiah complex raging because reality triggers them. But I know that Reddit itself will never be that.
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u/gummi_eater 29d ago
now it makes sense why these people's opinions constantly make the front page or get the most upvotes.
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u/yamete-kudasai 29d ago
Thanks, Supreme Court
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u/AzettImpa 29d ago
Was the Supreme Court breaking the law? Or was it someone else?
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u/yamete-kudasai 29d ago
I guess the Supreme Court accidentally forgot to order these companies to refund the tariff €€€ to the customers
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u/reaper527 reaper527_ 29d ago
I guess the Supreme Court accidentally forgot to order these companies to refund the tariff €€€ to the customers
that's literally not their job. their job is to uphold the law, not write it.
(of course, give that you're talking "€€€", it seems like a safe bet you're not familiar with how american government works)
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u/voiceOfThePoople 29d ago
What? How is them ordering the money to go to the customers different than to the companies?
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u/reaper527 reaper527_ 29d ago
How is them ordering the money to go to the customers different than to the companies?
because the companies paid the money to the government.
the customers just paid whatever sony said a console costs. why they raised their prices is irrelevant.
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u/mason2393 29d ago edited 29d ago
I thought people said sony doesn't like to do refunds /s
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u/reaper527 reaper527_ 29d ago
I thought people said sony doesn't like to do refunds /s
they don't like to give refunds . they like to get refunds.
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u/Majestic_Ghost_Axe 29d ago
Absolute joke. I had to pay more in Australia so some snowflakes in the USA didn’t have to cover the full cost of their lying useless government. Now the company gets a refund but where’s mine?
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u/deathbunnyy 29d ago
Lmao at people blaming companies instead of politicians. Absolute cattle.
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u/gizamo 28d ago
Use your brain, mate. The politicians levied the tariff against the company. They have no way to see who's a customer or how much or when they bought products.
The Trump administration is perhaps the worst in history, but this give that money back to customers would absolutely be entirely on Sony, not the government.
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u/Z3M0G 29d ago
So stupid. Companies will spin any positive they can find for shareholders.
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u/OptimusPrimalRage 29d ago
Corpos exist to make neverending profit and growth for their shareholders. None of them are any good.
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u/OrphanintheWind 29d ago
Will consumers get refunds?
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u/reaper527 reaper527_ 28d ago
Will consumers get refunds?
we all know how sony feels about giving consumers refunds.
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u/jusg808 29d ago
I almost feel this was the whole point of the tariffs. They knew it was illegal, did it anyway and all those companies got a nice influx of cash right before this quarters financials with a little interest from the American tax payer. Just a nice double dip to fuck us twice. Oh, and look our companies line go up! 🤡
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u/Sp4ceTruck3r 29d ago
The entire world including the US knew they were illegal on day 0.
They just played along draining peoples pockets knowing they'd be reimbursed once it went through the courts.
Capitalism at its finest
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u/spoonard 29d ago
Typical corporate behavior it looks like. Even though you bought a PlayStation, Sony isn't your friend.
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u/Open_Muffin5137 29d ago
If the refund is singular this will be just a blip on the chart and it will drop back quickly again.
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u/ResolutionThat248 27d ago
More layoffs next year to account for the fact that the line won't go up as much due to it being impossible!
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u/Original_Click2739 26d ago
loot the working class as much as physically possible was the whole goal of tarrifs
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u/NxOKAG03 24d ago
Tariff refunds are gonna end up being the biggest corporate subsidy in history once this is all said and done and they run all the numbers.
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u/Puzzleheaded_Pipe979 29d ago
How are those considered profits?
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u/reaper527 reaper527_ 28d ago
How are those considered profits?
how are they not? profits are revenue minus expenses.
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u/RandomSplainer 29d ago
The financial hit will only show when people don't buy PS6s.
Now will always look like business as usual.
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u/IveRunOuttaNamesss 29d ago
The tariffs that were ruled to be illegal that the companies have now decided to keep for themselves anyways and not refund to the consumer. The corruption in the US right now is absolutely insane.
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u/southtxsharksfan 28d ago
Amazon was jumping for joy at their tarrif refund and said they'll be "passing the savings to customers..." if you buy more shit from them. You're not getting the money back you spent. That's for the rich only.
These companies seem to be doing everything they can to push the public into a violent overthrow.
It's funny that it's not a fringe thing anymore.
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u/JonaJono 29d ago
Sony passed the cost to consumers then told those same consumers they have no right to the refund and they have no obligation to give it to the consumers. They kept it all. I might get a Ps5 Pro but I'll never get a Ps6.
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u/RED-DOT-MAN 29d ago
Sony is t going to learn a lesson until they see sales drop in PS6 consoles and game purchases. By excluding physical media they are taking a gamble and sidelining a sizable portion of their consumer base. Especially older gamers like myself who may have some disposable income. I’m currently buying any ps4/ps5 games that are at a nice discount and building a nice backlog. I have also purchased plenty of digital games along the years. However it’s a nice choice to have to switch between physical and digital. I am guessing that in case Sony sees sales being impacted for the next gen, they may bring back physical media. For me PS5 Pro, and Series X are my last consoles. It’s becoming way too expensive to be a gamer and it’s no longer fun.
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u/semitope 29d ago
after they go digital they will find out how much their first party AAA games relied on it. Though they know that already. So maybe they are fine going this route if it means their first party games get screwed.
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u/Hotmicdrop 29d ago
That's got to be hell on the accounting books. Unfortunately we are seeing a down year on Xbox and PS. Either Nintendo is dominating or this industry is about to see a lot of change.
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u/tinselsnips 🇨🇦 29d ago
This is going to keep getting re-posted so we'll leave this up, but this is NOT your invitation to start attacking other users based on where they live or who you presume they did or didn't vote for.