Since January 26, 2026, Valve has been facing a legal shockwave. The United Kingdom’s Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) has officially validated a giant lawsuit against the video game giant, accused of having profited from its dominant position via Steam. Estimated amount of damage: 656 million pounds sterling, or nearly 897 million euros. If you’ve purchased a game on Steam since June 2018, you may well be affected.
Behind this resounding affair, a figure: Vicki Shotbolt, British digital rights activist, who attacks Valve on behalf of 14 million Steam users. For players, the deal could result in an individual refund estimated at between £22 and £44. And this is just the beginning.
A complaint centered on the “Steam tax”
The class action targets what the plaintiffs call the “Steam tax”: a 30% commission on all sales. According to Shotbolt’s lawyers, this share would be “excessive” compared to the real cost of operating the service. Steam, while offering a robust and stable platform, would, according to them, impose rules that hinder competition.
In particular, the complaint targets the price parity clause. “The complaint alleges that Valve is forcing developers to agree not to sell their games for less on other platforms, like Epic or GOG, than on Steam.” This would prevent studios from offering better deals elsewhere, thereby locking users into the Steam ecosystem.
Practices deemed toxic for consumers
In addition to price fixing, Valve is accused of artificially maintaining its monopoly through other mechanisms. In particular, when a player buys a game on Steam, he is forced to stay there: “Impossible to find a cheaper extension elsewhere: you are thus financially linked to the Valve store for the entire lifespan of the game.” The scope of this affair could upset the smooth image of Steam, long perceived as the “good guy” of the digital giants. “The challenge? Paying a ‘Steam tax’ for years without knowing it.”
Who is affected and how much can you receive?
The class action covers all UK users who have purchased a game or DLC on Steam since June 2018. “Lawsuit against Valve confirmed: 14 million Steam users could be entitled to compensation.” This is an automatic procedure: no need to register manually to be eligible. The estimated payout varies between £22 and £44 per player. “Estimated gain: between £22 and £44 per person.” But be careful: the trial has only just begun. The timetable could extend over several years.
And now ? A highly anticipated trial
Valve attempted to have the complaint dismissed, arguing that its “Steam keys” allow developers to sell elsewhere while still taking advantage of Steam’s infrastructure. But the court was not convinced. By authorizing this collective action, British justice is opening a breach. Because if Valve is condemned, the entire logic of the commissions imposed by the platforms – including Apple, Google or Microsoft – could be called into question. This trial marks a turning point in the history of PC video games, and a potential redistribution of cards in the digital store sector.