UK tribunal clears £656 million class-action lawsuit against Valve over Steam pricing, commissions, and overcharging users
A UK tribunal has allowed a £656 million class-action lawsuit against Valve to proceed, alleging overcharging of Steam users due to its pricing and commission practices.Summary
A £656 million class-action lawsuit against Valve regarding Steam’s pricing and commission structure has been cleared to proceed to a full trial by a UK Competition Appeal Tribunal. The lawsuit, initiated by Vicki Shotbolt on behalf of approximately 14 million UK Steam users, argues that Valve’s 30% commission on game sales, DLC, and in-game purchases is excessive and leads to inflated prices for consumers. The claim asserts that Valve’s dominant position in the PC gaming market allows it to maintain this commission without competitive pressure.
Furthermore, the lawsuit challenges Steam’s restrictions on where players can purchase DLC and add-ons, arguing that requiring all content to be bought through Steam locks users into the platform. It also alleges that Valve pressures developers to maintain consistent pricing across all platforms, hindering competition and limiting consumer choice.
If successful, the lawsuit could result in compensation for UK Steam users who made purchases since 2018, with estimated payouts ranging from £22 to £44 per person, potentially totaling £656 million. Valve had attempted to halt the case, citing concerns about identifying claimants and calculating damages, but the tribunal deemed these concerns insufficient to stop the proceedings.
(Source：Notebookcheck)