UK tribunal clears £656 million class-action lawsuit against Valve over Steam pricing, commissions, and overcharging users

Valve is now dealing with a major legal challenge in the UK, as a £656 million class-action lawsuit over Steam’s pricing and commission structure has been cleared to move forward. The case focuses on how Steam operates as a digital store and whether its business practices have caused UK gamers to pay more than they should.

The lawsuit was first filed in June 2024 by Vicki Shotbolt, who brought the case on behalf of around 14 million Steam users in the UK. This week, London’s Competition Appeal Tribunal ruled that the claim can proceed to a full trial. Valve had tried to stop the case at an early stage, but the tribunal rejected that request.

The main issue is Steam’s 30% commission fee, which Valve takes from game sales, DLC, and in-game purchases. According to the lawsuit, this cut is too high and ends up increasing prices for consumers. The claim argues that Valve’s strong position in the PC gaming market allows it to keep this commission in place without real competition pushing prices down.

Another key point in the case is how Steam handles extra content. If a player buys a game on Steam, any DLC or add-ons for that game must also be purchased through Steam. The lawsuit says this effectively locks players into Valve’s platform, even if they might want to shop elsewhere for better prices or deals.

The claim also targets Steam’s rules for developers and publishers. Shotbolt argues that Valve pressures developers to keep prices the same across all platforms. This means a game cannot be cheaper or launch earlier on a rival store, which reduces competition and limits choice for both developers and players.

Because of these practices, the lawsuit says UK gamers have been overcharged for years. If the case succeeds, Steam users in the UK who bought games or DLC since 2018 could receive compensation. Early estimates suggest payouts could range from £22 to £44 per person, depending on how much they spent. Altogether, damages could reach £656 million.

Valve previously argued that the lawsuit did not clearly explain how users would be identified or how the claims could be properly calculated. The company also questioned how the case was being funded, even though Shotbolt has secured more than £18 million to support the legal action. The tribunal decided these concerns were not strong enough to stop the case from going ahead.