Even if this is true, and I make no comment on that, you may very well be correct. Without further laws/treaties bidding ≠ selecting. I assume one of the criteria is the company’s fitness.
The train operators should recognise that they are in a bit of a monopsony, here.
Looking at the requested penalty makes me wonder why they didn’t request one trillion. I mean if you are being blatant about your ulterior motive to scare off further investigation into your unethical practices.
Anyway they now got the stink on them. Any railway operator dealing with them will have no one but themselves to blame going forward.
This is yet another nail in the coffin of physical media. Or, in other words games you actually own instead of long term lease.
This recent rise may also be due to the current US administration forgetting to stockpile petroleum before going to war.