Valve will cease selling physical Steam gift cards through retail partners, citing persistent scam concerns. The company updated its Steam store help page to reflect this change, indicating that existing physical cards will continue to be honored but will no longer be restocked once current inventory runs out. Retailers are expected to be out of stock of these cards by the end of 2026.
This decision stems from Valve's efforts to combat fraudulent activities where scammers often demand gift cards as payment. While Valve has implemented anti-scam measures in the past, it acknowledges that scammers continue to adapt and impact Steam customers. The company pointed to an FTC page on gift card scams as a reference for the issue.
Digital gift cards purchased directly through the Steam storefront will remain available and unaffected by this change. These digital cards are directly tied to a user's Steam account, offering a more secure alternative. Valve's move to discontinue physical retail cards is seen as a measure to mitigate potential legal liabilities and reduce the avenues through which scams can operate, even as it acknowledges the ongoing adaptation of fraudulent schemes.IMAGE3