The owner of the biggest PC game digital distribution network in the world, Steam, is being sued for £656 million.
It is alleged that Valve Corporation overcharged 14 million customers in the UK by abusing its dominant position in the market.
The person launching the action, digital rights activist Vicki Shotbolt, said that “Valve is rigging the market and taking advantage of UK gamers.”
We’ve reached out to Valve for a response.
The Competition Appeal Tribunal in London has received the allegation, which charges Valve with “shutting out” rivals in the PC gaming industry.
According to the report, Valve “forces” game publishers to abide by so-called price parity requirements in order to stop their products from being offered for less on other platforms.
The “excessive commission of up to 30%” that Steam is now entitled to charge, according to Ms. Shotbolt, has made it possible for UK customers to overpay for PC games and add-on items.
In this scenario, a single person is suing on behalf of a much larger group of people in what is known as a collective action claim.
Ms. Shotbolt said she is filing the lawsuit “to stop this unlawful conduct and help people get back what they are owed.” She accuses Valve of breaking UK competition law for at least six years.
