Console Makers Refuse to Pass On Tariff Refunds to Buyers
September 6, 2026
Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo have all dismissed class action suits claiming they should refund consumers for US tariffs on consoles. They argue that customers paid the advertised prices and received what they paid for.
European buyers also faced price increases due to these tariffs but have no refund fund as there were no European tariffs.
These companies are fighting over a pot of money that doesn’t exist for European buyers, despite them paying the same prices. While American buyers can argue over refunds, European buyers never had a chance to do so due to the absence of any European tariff.
Sony expects around $510M in refunds while Nintendo has recorded $300M and Microsoft has not yet disclosed its figure. These companies previously warned Washington about console tariffs in 2019.
Walmart and Costco have promised to pass savings on to shoppers, making the console makers’ stance more notable. The European Representative Actions Directive, effective since June 2023, allows designated bodies to seek remedies for consumers, but raising prices due to inflation doesn’t constitute a violation of consumer law in Europe.
Darius Popa is a technology enthusiast and intern at The Next Web, contributing to research-backed content and investigating new technologies and global events.