UK Tribunal Greenlights £656 Million Steam Lawsuit
A UK tribunal has approved a massive £656 million (approx. $836 million) collective lawsuit against Valve Corporation, the owner of the Steam gaming platform. The case alleges Valve abused its market dominance to overcharge millions of UK PC gamers.
Key Allegations Against Valve
The lawsuit, filed by digital rights campaigner Vicki Shotbolt, centres on Steam’s “price parity” rules. It claims these rules stop game publishers from offering Steam keys at cheaper prices on rival platforms, forcing UK consumers to pay more for games and add-ons.
“Valve is rigging the market and taking advantage of UK gamers,” said Natasha Pearman, a lawyer representing the claimant.
Market Dominance and Potential Compensation
The claim argues Valve’s 75% control of the UK’s PC game distribution market lets it impose unfair terms that hike prices. The action covers an estimated 14 million UK Steam users who made purchases since 2018.
- If successful, affected gamers could receive between £22 and £44 each.
- Compensation would vary based on individual purchase history.
Valve’s History with Regulators
This is not Valve’s first regulatory challenge. The company was fined €1.6 million by French authorities in 2021 for geo-blocking practices. In 2022, it also settled a lawsuit with game developers over Steam’s antitrust allegations.
