Steam is the biggest gaming platform and has been a staple in PC gaming for many years. The platform dominates digital game distribution, offering millions of players access to thousands of titles.
Valve, the company behind Steam, will now have to defend a £656 million ($900 million) lawsuit in the United Kingdom. The Competition Appeal Tribunal ruled that a case against the company over Steam’s pricing practices can proceed to a full trial. This legal challenge marks one of the most significant antitrust cases the gaming giant has faced.
In this article, we’ll explore the details of the case and examine how gamers are reacting to this major legal development.
Why is Valve Getting Sued?
The case alleges that Valve has abused its dominant position in the PC gaming market through Steam, resulting in unfair prices for consumers.
The claim was filed in 2024 by digital rights campaigner Vicki Shotbolt on behalf of up to 14 million gamers in the UK. It argues that Valve imposes restrictive contractual terms on game publishers that limit how and where PC games can be sold. Publishers can’t offer lower prices on competing platforms like Epic Games Store or GOG.
The lawsuit also challenges Steam’s DLC rules. If you buy a base game on Steam, you have to purchase all downloadable content through Steam as well. This locks players into Valve’s ecosystem and allows the company to charge up to 30 percent commission, which gets passed on to consumers through higher prices.
If the claim is successful, affected users could be entitled to compensation. The case is being supported by law firm Milberg London LLP.
How Gamers Reacted
Most gamers don’t see Steam as a monopoly. They attribute Steam’s massive market share to the platform being better than the competition. Many believe Valve earned its position through quality features, regular sales, and customer-friendly policies rather than anti-competitive practices.
Gabe Newell has always been respected by gamers and seen as “pro consumer.” His reputation in the gaming community makes this lawsuit feel off to many players. Some UK gamers are even opting out of the class action.
Some content creators and gamers called the DLC point absurd. The limitation that Steam versions of games are only compatible with Steam versions of DLCs is shared across other big PC platforms, so singling out Valve for this practice seems inconsistent.
The commission rate argument also faces pushback. Steam charges a 30% commission. Epic Games Store charges 12%, which is significantly lower. However, GOG charges a 30% platform fee, similar to Steam, and PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo all charge the same 30% on third-party games. Many gamers question why Steam is being singled out when the 30% rate is the industry standard.
Final Words
Steam, which launched in 2003, remains the largest digital storefront for PC games and continues to play a central role in the global PC gaming market. The platform has shaped how millions of gamers access and purchase titles for over two decades.
Whether Steam imposes anti-competitive rules is a point worthy of debate. The lawsuit raises legitimate questions about market dominance and pricing practices, but the gaming community remains divided on whether Valve’s business model crosses the line into unfair practices. The case will likely take years to resolve, and its outcome could have significant implications for how digital game storefronts operate in the future.