Steam Owner Valve Faces $900 Million Lawsuit Over PC Monopoly Claims, Following UK Tribunal Ruling
Valve is facing a $900 million lawsuit in the UK over alleged anti-competitive practices on the Steam platform.Summary
A UK tribunal has authorized a £656 million ($901 million) collective action lawsuit against Valve, the owner of Steam, alleging anti-competitive practices. The lawsuit, initiated by Vicki Shotbolt in 2024, claims Valve leverages its dominant position to enforce release parity restrictions on game developers and publishers, preventing them from offering games on rival platforms with better terms. It also alleges Valve’s requirement to purchase add-ons through its own marketplace and its 30% commission fees reduce competition and inflate prices for consumers. Valve initially attempted to halt the legal action, arguing insufficient detail regarding its commission structure and a lack of methodology for identifying claimants, but the tribunal ruled the case can proceed. This legal challenge mirrors a similar ongoing lawsuit in the US concerning Steam’s 30% cut, brought by Wolfire Studios and Dark Catt Studios. The debate over platform exclusivity and fair revenue sharing was recently highlighted by discussions surrounding Remedy Entertainment’s Epic Games Store deal for Alan Wake 2.
(Source：Ign Pakistan)