Valve will face a full trial in the UK regarding a lawsuit worth approximately £656 million (around $900 million). A tribunal has decided the case against Steam has enough merit to move forward.
Valve tried to stop a lawsuit claiming it unfairly controls the PC gaming market with its Steam platform, but the Competition Appeal Tribunal ruled against them. The lawsuit alleges Valve is using its powerful position to charge gamers unfair prices, according to the BBC.
In 2024, digital rights advocate Vicki Shotbolt filed a claim representing as many as 14 million Steam users in the UK. The claim argues that Valve uses unfair contract terms to dictate how and where PC games are sold. This limits publishers from offering games at lower prices or releasing them sooner on other platforms.
Steam players could receive compensation
The legal documents state that Steam requires players to purchase all downloadable content for a game through the Steam platform itself, even if they already own the base game. The lawsuit claims this forces users to stay within Valve’s system and allows the company to charge fees – as high as 30% – which are then paid by customers.
A legal case has been launched on behalf of UK customers who purchased games or downloadable content for PC platforms like Steam since 2018. If the case wins, those affected could receive compensation. The law firm Milberg London LLP is supporting the claim.
Valve tried to prevent the case from going to trial, but the tribunal decided there was enough evidence to proceed. Valve has been asked for a statement.
This lawsuit isn’t the first time Valve’s business has been questioned. Another case, brought by consumers, is already underway in the U.S.
Launched in 2003, Steam is still the biggest online store for PC games. Recent industry data suggests over 19,000 games came out on Steam in 2025, bringing in $11.7 billion in sales. This highlights just how large and important this market is, especially considering the current legal issues surrounding it.
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2026-01-27 18:52