Steam has been one of the dominant marketplaces for PC games for over two decades, but its parent company, Valve, is now facing a lawsuit that argues the commissions it charges publishers have given it a monopoly.
As reported by Reuters, the case was originally filed in the United Kingdom in 2024, but it was only given approval to go forward by a tribunal earlier this week. The lawsuit is attempting to represent “up to 14 million people” in the UK who have purchased games or DLC through Steam since 2018.
The argument at the heart of the case alleges that Valve has kept publishers from selling their games more cheaply on other platforms by setting contractual conditions. Essentially, Steam users who buy a game on that platform can only purchase DLC or additional content through Valve. The lawsuit contends that this locks in consumers to Steam rather than giving them options to go elsewhere.
According to the report, the potential damages at stake in the lawsuit are approximately £656 million or $897.7 million in US dollars.
A similar case was brought against Valve in the US back in 2021. That case centered on Valve’s 30% take from publishers and alleged that the company had “illegally monopolized the market for PC game distribution.” The case was ultimately dismissed later in 2021.
Valve’s current UK case doesn’t have a court day yet. Late last year, Valve revealed plans for a new Steam Machine, as well as a Steam Frame VR headset, and a new Steam controller. Release dates for that hardware haven’t been disclosed.