If you’ve ever bought a PC game on Steam and thought, “Why is it basically the same price everywhere?” — yeah, that exact frustration is now sitting at the center of a major UK legal fight.

Valve, the company behind Steam, is facing a £656 million (about $900 million) collective action in the UK after the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) in London ruled the case can move forward.

This doesn’t mean Valve has “lost” the lawsuit. But it does mean the claim cleared a crucial hurdle: it’s officially allowed to proceed toward trial as a group claim.

What the UK tribunal actually decided (and why it matters)

The big procedural win here is that the CAT has allowed the lawsuit to continue as collective proceedings on an “opt-out” basis.

In plain English: If you’re part of the defined UK group, you could be included automatically unless you choose to opt out.

According to the BBC’s reporting, the case was brought in 2024 by digital rights campaigner Vicki Shotbolt, on behalf of up to 14 million UK Steam users. The claim covers people who bought games or add-on content since 2018, whether on Steam or elsewhere (depending on how the class is defined as the case progresses).

The core allegation: Steam’s dominance lets it keep prices higher

The lawsuit argues Valve has abused Steam’s market position in ways that push prices up for UK consumers.

The allegations include three main ideas:

1) “Price parity” pressure on publishers

The claim says Valve effectively prevents game publishers from selling titles cheaper on rival platforms (or earlier/with better deals elsewhere), because Steam’s commercial terms discourage undercutting Steam.

That’s a big deal because it attacks the idea that “Steam prices are just market prices.” The claim is basically: the market can’t work normally if the dominant store sets the rules.

2) Lock-in around DLC and add-on content

Another allegation: if you buy the base game on Steam, Valve’s policies allegedly force you to buy all additional content through Steam, which “locks” you into continuing to purchase on the platform.

Think of it like buying a car where only the dealership is allowed to sell you the tires later.

3) An “excessive” commission (up to 30%)

The claim also targets Steam’s well-known revenue cut, arguing Valve can charge an excessive commission of up to 30% because it’s insulated from real competitive pressure—and that consumers ultimately pay the price.

Why Valve tried to stop this before trial

Valve challenged whether the lawsuit should be allowed to proceed as a collective action at all. One common argument in these cases is basically: “Even if there’s a legal issue here, you can’t reliably calculate who was harmed and by how much.”

But the tribunal disagreed and said the certification criteria were met, so the case can move forward in this group format.

That certification step matters because it’s often where big consumer class-style cases die. Here, it survived.

What happens next (and what this doesn’t prove yet)

At this stage:

  • The lawsuit is allowed to proceed (certified to move forward)
  • Valve will have to defend its practices in the UK legal process
  • Nothing has been proven about wrongdoing yet

Also worth noting: this UK case sits alongside similar pressure elsewhere. The BBC mentions a separate consumer action in the US filed in August 2024, and PC Gamer notes Valve has faced comparable US litigation dating back earlier.

What this could mean for gamers (realistically)

If the claim succeeds, potential outcomes could include:

  • Compensation for UK consumers included in the class
  • Pressure on Steam/Valve to change contract terms that allegedly restrict pricing
  • A wider industry ripple: publishers and rival stores may get more freedom to price differently without fear of losing visibility or access on Steam

But even in the best-case-for-claimants scenario, don’t expect overnight changes to Steam’s store experience. Legal timelines here can stretch for years.

Q&A

Q1: Is Valve being fined $900 million right now?

No. £656m (~$900m) is the claimed damages estimate, not a fine. The tribunal ruling only allows the case to proceed.

Q2: What does “opt-out collective action” mean for UK Steam users?

It means eligible UK consumers may be included in the case automatically unless they actively opt out, depending on the final class definition and process.

Q3: Does this mean Steam is officially a monopoly?

Not officially. The case alleges Steam is dominant and that Valve abused that dominance, but the merits haven’t been decided yet.