PC gaming giant, Valve, is facing a major legal challenge in the UK as a class-action lawsuit over Steam’s revenue model moves forward. The case, first filed in 2024, could leave the company liable for up to £656 million (~$904 million) in damages, according to the Competition Appeal Tribunal in London.
The claim was brought by Vicki Shotbolt, CEO of Parent Zone, on behalf of an estimated 14 million Steam users in the UK. The lawsuit argues that Valve’s standard 30% commission on game sales has led to higher prices for consumers.
Shotbolt also points to Steam’s system for add-on content, where players must purchase expansions, downloadable content (DLC), and other extras exclusively through the platform. Lawyers describe this as a “lock-in,” forcing users to remain within Steam’s ecosystem rather than having the freedom to buy from third-party sellers.
Emmanuel Umahi
Estimated compensation ranges from £8 to £23 per game and £14 to £29 per add-on. That would total between £22 and £44 per affected user if the case succeeds. Shotbolt has publicly criticized Valve’s market position, saying at the lawsuit’s filing that “Valve is rigging the market and taking advantage of UK gamers.”
To support the case, she secured more than £18.6 million (~$25 million) in litigation funding. Valve challenged those funding arrangements in an effort to block the case, but the tribunal ruled that the lawsuit can proceed. No trial date has yet been set, leaving Valve and UK gamers waiting to see how this landmark case will unfold.
This isn't the first time Steam’s business model has faced legal scrutiny. In 2021, Wolfire Studios filed an antitrust case in the UK, also targeting Valve’s 30% platform cut. That case was initially dismissed, then refiled with revised arguments. Around the same time, Dark Catt Studios launched a similar action. In 2022, the cases were combined, and in November 2024, the merged lawsuit was granted class-action status.
Together, these cases signal growing pressure on how digital storefronts structure fees and control in-platform transactions.
Emmanuel Umahi
Valve argues that the lawsuit lacks a sound method for calculating harm and disputes the claim that its commission is unfair. The company notes that 30% has long been a common rate across major gaming platforms, including PlayStation, Xbox, Good Old Games, and Nintendo. By contrast, though, the Epic Games Store takes a 12% cut.
Steam itself adjusts commissions based on sales thresholds: 30% for earnings under £7.5 million ($10 million), 25% for £7.5 million–£37 million ($10–50 million), and 20% for over £37 million ($50 million).
If the lawsuit succeeds, the ruling could reshape how PC game marketplaces operate in the UK. Potential outcomes include lower platform fees, more flexibility in how add-ons are sold, and greater competition between storefronts. But despite the controversy, Steam continues to grow, with Valve ranked among the most efficient companies in the world, generating around $50 million per employee.
Takeaway
The UK class-action lawsuit against Valve is one of the most significant legal challenges yet to Steam’s business model. With hundreds of millions of pounds potentially at stake, the case could influence not just pricing for UK players, but how digital game stores structure fees and competition in the years ahead.
For gamers, the case centers on whether digital platform fees have quietly pushed prices higher. For the industry, it adds to a broader global debate about the power of dominant marketplaces and the fairness of their revenue models.
Emmanuel Umahi
