Video game developer and distributor Valve must face a £656 million ($897.7 million) lawsuit in the UK after a tribunal ruled the case can proceed. The claim alleges Valve charged excessive commissions to publishers through its Steam online store.
Filed in 2024, the case is brought on behalf of up to 14 million UK consumers who bought games or additional content via Steam or other platforms since 2018. Lawyers for children’s welfare advocate Vicki Shotbolt argue that Valve restricts publishers from selling games more cheaply or earlier on rival platforms, effectively locking users into Steam for all additional purchases.
The claim says these practices allow Valve to charge commissions of up to 30%, which are described as unfair and excessive. Valve had sought to block the case at an early stage, but the Competition Appeal Tribunal ruled on Monday that the lawsuit could continue toward trial.
Valve did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The case mirrors similar mass legal actions in Britain against Apple and Google over app store commissions and follows a separate consumer lawsuit filed against Valve in the United States in 2024.
