Sony, Nintendo pledge ‘roll-over’ gaming contract changes in Britain
12:53 JST, April 14, 2022
Britain’s competition regulator said it had secured commitments from Japan’s Sony and Nintendo to make it clear to customers how the companies automatically renew online gaming subscriptions, after a three-year sector investigation.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) began its inquiry in 2019
It said in a statement on Wednesday that it had ended its probe after receiving undertakings relating to Sony’s PlayStation Plus and the Nintendo Switch Online service. Microsoft made similar pledges for its Xbox services in January.
Sony has agreed measures to prevent customers from paying for its services when they have not used it for a long time, the CMA said, adding that the Nintendo Switch Online Service is no longer sold with automatic renewal as the default option.
Nintendo and Sony did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment on their CMA undertakings.
PlayStation Plus services start at 6.99 pounds ($9.1) per month in Britain, while Nintendo Switch Online is available for 3.49 pounds. Sony’s PlayStation has for years enjoyed a more steady stream of exclusive games, making it a market leader.
“A number of changes have been made across (the online gaming) sector to protect customers and help tackle concerns about auto-renewing subscriptions,” Michael Grenfell, executive director of enforcement at the CMA, said.
Grenfell called on firms in other sectors to also review their renewal practices.
The CMA previously looked at the subscription rules of anti-virus software providers in an effort to bring transparency to how customers are charged for services they use or no longer use.
"Business" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
Japan, U.S., Philippines to Strengthen Nickel Supply Chains; Reduce Reliance on China for Critical Minerals
-
Shinkansen to Have Private Rooms by FY 2026, JR Tokai Announces
-
Ride-Sharing Services Start in Tokyo; Kanagawa, Aichi, Kyoto, Others To Follow Suit
-
Survey: 80% Worried About Recognizing AI as Patent Inventor; Respondents Fear Increase in Unverified Inventions
-
Japan’s Docomo To Sell Contactless Smart Rings; Users Can Make Payments at the Wave of a Hand
JN ACCESS RANKING
- M6.0 Earthquake Hits Japan’s Tohoku Region; Fukushima, Iwate, Miyagi Prefectures Observe 4 on Japanese Scale With No Risk of Tsunami
- Cherry Blossoms Draw Crowd to Tokyo’s Ueno Park; Viewing Season Kicks Off to Slow Start
- China Mutes Memorialization of Reformer Hu Yaobang; Memories Could Spark Critique of Xi Administration
- Shinkansen Services Suspended After Man ‘Searches for Phone’ on Tracks; Disruption Affects About 14,000 Passengers
- Whaling Mother Ship Built in Japan for 1st Time in 73 Years