A Dutch non-profit organization, the Consumer Competition Claims Foundation (CCCF), is preparing to take legal action against Valve, the company behind Steam. The CCCF accuses Valve of artificially inflating PC game prices by enforcing a restrictive commission structure and contractual terms that prevent publishers from offering their games at lower prices on competing platforms.
The organization claims Valve's standard 30% commission on Steam sales, which can drop to 25% and then 20% for very high-revenue titles, incentivizes publishers to raise their prices. This inflated pricing is then applied across all PC storefronts, even those with significantly lower commission rates, such as the Epic Games Store which charges 12%. The CCCF states that publishers feel compelled to maintain these higher prices across all platforms to remain on Steam, due to its dominant market share.
Valve, and its president Gabe Newell, have previously denied such policies. Newell was reportedly shown evidence of Valve employees enforcing such rules during an antitrust case in 2023 but continued to deny that Valve has a policy dictating third-party pricing on other platforms. The CCCF dismisses these denials, asserting that Valve uses a combination of contractual obligations and pressure to enforce its pricing strategies.
Beyond price inflation, the CCCF has raised other concerns about Valve's business practices. The organization highlighted Valve's past practice of geo-blocking Steam Keys, preventing games purchased in Eastern Europe from being activated in Western Europe to maintain price differentials. This practice led to the European Commission fining Valve several years ago.
Furthermore, the CCCF pointed to Valve's commission on in-game microtransactions. Once a game is purchased on Steam, purchases like skins, loot boxes, and season passes can only be made through the Steam Wallet, incurring Valve's typical 30% commission. The CCCF suggests that allowing alternative payment processors could lead to lower fees for these transactions.
The CCCF has extended an invitation for an out-of-court settlement, but anticipates litigation. Should the case prevail, Dutch gamers who have registered with the "Game Claim" campaign are expected to receive financial compensation. Copenhagen Economics, an economic consultancy, has estimated that Dutch gamers may have overpaid by more than 220 million euros, potentially amounting to over 130 euros per gamer, with avid players potentially receiving more, including interest.
This lawsuit is one of several legal challenges facing Valve. It follows an antitrust suit filed by Wolfire Games, a class-action lawsuit concerning loot boxes, and a significant lawsuit from the state of New York accusing Valve of enabling illegal gambling through loot boxes.