Valve hit with £656m UK lawsuit over Steam pricing
Valve is heading toward a major legal battle in the UK after a tribunal ruled that a £656m lawsuit over its Steam platform can go ahead.
What is the case about?
The case accuses the gaming company of abusing its dominant position in PC gaming by restricting publishers and locking players into using its online store. It was filed in 2024 by digital rights and children’s welfare campaigner Vicki Shotbolt on behalf of as many as 14 million people in the UK who have bought games or extra content through Steam or other platforms since 2018.
At the heart of the claim is the way Steam does business. Shotbolt’s legal team argues that Valve forces publishers to accept conditions that stop them from releasing games earlier or at lower prices on rival stores. They also say players are effectively tied to Steam because any add-on content for a game bought on Steam must also be purchased through the platform.
According to the claim, this setup allows Valve to charge what lawyers describe as “unfair and excessive” commissions of up to 30%, pushing prices higher for consumers. Shotbolt argues this has left millions of UK gamers paying more than they should for PC games and downloadable content.
Valve tried to block the case at an early stage, arguing it should not be certified to proceed toward a full trial. However, the effort to block the case failed on Monday when the Competition Appeal Tribunal in London ruled the case could continue.
The lawsuit is a collective action, meaning a single claim is brought on behalf of a large group of people. If successful, UK Steam users could be entitled to compensation. The case is being supported by law firm Milberg London LLP, which specialises in group claims against large companies.
The action against Valve follows a wave of similar cases in the UK. Apple and Google are both facing mass legal challenges over commissions of up to 30% charged through their App Store and Play Store. Valve is also dealing with a separate consumer lawsuit filed by gamers in the US in August 2024.
Valve launched Steam in 2003 and it has since grown into the world’s biggest PC game marketplace. Industry estimates suggest more than 19,000 games were released on the platform in 2025 alone, generating billions in revenue. Beyond software, the company has expanded into hardware with the Steam Deck in 2022 and is now working on the Steam Machine, a console-style device aimed at bringing PC gaming to TVs.
As the case moves forward, it could become a defining legal test of how much power digital platforms can hold over prices, publishers, and players alike.
