A £656 million ($903 million) lawsuit has been filed against Valve by UK digital-rights activist Vicki Shotbolt, challenging the company over its Steam practices.
Allegations Against Valve
Shotbolt alleges that Valve has been abusing its market dominance, restricting the sale of games at lower prices on other platforms. Additionally, she claims Valve enforces anti-steering provisions that link downloadable content (DLC) or in-game purchases exclusively to Steam.
Shotbolt also criticizes Valve's commission structure. Steam charges up to 30% on sales, which she states is excessive compared to Epic Games Store’s 12% fee.
Potential Impact
If successful, this lawsuit could entitle up to 14 million UK Steam users to compensation. This legal action may motivate similar suits in other jurisdictions. The case brings attention to longstanding criticisms of platform fees and practices within the gaming industry.
Valve's Response
Valve has disputed the legitimacy of the lawsuit, questioning the methodology used by Shotbolt to calculate their commission rates as inadequate. The company maintains that its current pricing model is competitive.
The outcome of this lawsuit could signal a shift in digital distribution practices across the industry.
