Valve defends CS2 loot boxes in lawsuit by comparing them to Happy Meal toys

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Valve argued in New York court that preventing Counter-Strike 2 from having loot boxes would set a precedent that could also ban things like McDonald’s Happy Meal toys, and they asked the judge to think carefully about this potential outcome.

New York’s Attorney General sued Valve, the company behind Counter-Strike 2, claiming its weapon case system was a form of illegal gambling. Attorney General Letitia James likened opening these cases to playing a slot machine, suggesting Valve has been unfairly profiting from it for years. Valve, which has earned billions from this feature, is now trying to get the lawsuit dismissed.

Valve says CS2 cases are no different than baseball card packs

In a 42-page legal document, the company explained that its loot boxes don’t qualify as gambling under New York state law. They argue that because each box always contains one item, players aren’t risking any money.

Valve argued that its in-game items, called ‘skins,’ shouldn’t be considered gambling under the law because the company never directly exchanges them for real money, nor does its Steam marketplace. To emphasize this, Valve provided examples of other collectible items that would also be considered illegal gambling under the same reasoning, including baseball cards, collectible figurines in blind boxes, toys found in cereal boxes, grab bags from comic shops, and McDonald’s Happy Meal toys.

Valve questioned the court, asking if a child being able to get a toy from a cereal box is comparable to opening a loot box. James is asking for triple the profits Valve made from loot boxes and wants them banned for New York residents. Valve countered that lawmakers had previously discussed and chosen not to regulate similar ‘mystery boxes,’ so they didn’t think they were violating the law.

Valve is already dealing with multiple lawsuits in 2026. In March, one case accused the company of earning “billions” from CS2 cases that should be returned to players. Plus, a $900 million case regarding Steam’s pricing practices passed a key hurdle in the UK in January and is now scheduled for a full trial.

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2026-05-20 22:18