UK Approves Legal Action Against Valve Over Steam Pricing
Valve Corporation is facing significant legal challenges in the UK, with a £656 million lawsuit centering on alleged unfair pricing practices on its digital storefront, Steam. The collective action is spearheaded by Vicki Shotbolt, a digital rights advocate, who claims that Valve’s practices are detrimental to millions of consumers.
Details of the Lawsuit Against Valve
The lawsuit has proceeded following a tribunal ruling that permitted the case to move forward. It alleges that Valve has abused its dominant market position by imposing restrictive terms on game publishers, effectively locking consumers into the Steam ecosystem.
Claims of Market Abuse
- The lawsuit claims Valve coerces game developers into signing agreements that prevent competitive pricing on rival platforms.
- It asserts that users are required to purchase additional content through Steam if they initially bought the game from the platform, leading to a “lock-in” effect.
- This practice allegedly allows Valve to charge an excessive commission—reportedly up to 30%—on sales, which negatively impacts UK consumers.
Scope of the Legal Action
This collective claim represents as many as 14 million UK users who have purchased games or additional content on Steam or other platforms since 2018. Legal representation for the claim is provided by Milberg London LLP, known for pursuing group action lawsuits against major corporations.
A noteworthy aspect of this case is its collective nature, meaning that one individual represents a substantial group of consumers, which can amplify the impact of the legal proceedings.
Background on Valve and Steam
Valve, initially recognized for developing hit titles like Half-Life, launched Steam in 2003. The platform has since evolved into the largest digital distribution service for PC gaming, boasting over 19,000 game releases in 2025 alone and generating an impressive revenue of $11.7 billion (£8.6 billion).
Recent Developments in Valve’s Operations
In addition to its legal battles, Valve has diversified its product offerings. In 2022, the company released the Steam Deck, a portable gaming device that enables users to play Steam games on the go. More recently, Valve announced plans to launch the Steam Machine, a console intended to compete with major brands such as Nintendo, Xbox, and PlayStation.
Outside the UK, a separate consumer action against Valve has been filed in the United States, indicating that the company’s practices are under scrutiny on multiple fronts.
As this case unfolds, the implications for Valve and its business practices may reshape the landscape of digital game sales and distribution.
