Valve, the video game developer behind Steam, must face a £656 million ($898M) lawsuit in the UK. The case claims Valve charged publishers excessive commissions on its online store.
The lawsuit, filed in 2024, represents up to 14 million UK consumers who purchased games or in-game content on Steam or other Valve platforms since 2018.
Allegations of unfair practices
Lawyers for children’s welfare advocate Vicki Shotbolt claim Valve blocks publishers from offering cheaper or earlier access on rival platforms.
They argue that Steam forces users to buy all additional content through its platform once they own the base game. This practice “locks in” users, allowing Valve to charge commissions of up to 30%.
Valve had tried to stop the case from moving forward, but the London Competition Appeal Tribunal ruled the lawsuit can proceed toward trial.
Wider context
Valve has not publicly commented on the ruling.
This case follows similar UK lawsuits against Apple and Google over App Store and Play Store commissions. Both cases also center on 30% platform fees.
In the United States, Valve is facing a separate consumer action filed in Seattle in August 2024.
