London, UK – A lawsuit has been filed against Valve Corporation in London, UK, alleging that the company has overcharged 14 million British customers. The claim, seeking £656 million ($838 million) in damages, is based on accusations that Valve imposes pricing restrictions on game publishers, preventing them from offering lower prices on other platforms. This alleged practice, the claimants argue, violates competition laws by hindering others from entering the market and charging excessive prices.
The lawsuit is being spearheaded by Vicki Shotbolt, a children’s digital rights advocate, through an “opt-out collective action claim” in the UK. Shotbolt is working with the law firm Milberg London to bring the case against Valve, accusing the company of using its market power to overcharge consumers for games and in-game content on the Steam platform. Natasha Pearman, a lawyer at Milberg London, stated, “We believe that Valve has used its market power in a way that is detrimental to consumers.”
According to the lawsuit, Valve’s market dominance allows the company to maintain a 30 percent commission on game sales on Steam, with exceptions for larger publishers. The lawsuit highlights concerns that Valve’s pricing restrictions and commission structure are unfair and result in consumers being overcharged. Despite previous legal challenges, Valve has managed to deflect accusations of unfair competition practices in the past.
Interested individuals in the UK who have made purchases on Steam since June 2018 have the option to join the lawsuit by visiting a dedicated website. However, due to the nature of the claim being “opt-out,” consumers who do not wish to participate in the lawsuit must actively visit the site to opt-out. The case brings attention to ongoing debates surrounding market dominance and anticompetitive practices in the gaming industry, raising questions about the regulation of digital platforms and their impact on consumers.
As the legal battle unfolds, stakeholders will be closely watching developments to see how the court addresses the allegations against Valve. The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for how digital platforms operate and the measures taken to ensure fair competition in the gaming market.