Stop Suing Valve

The public name Steam You Owe Us refers to collective proceedings at the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT): Vicki Shotbolt Class Representative Limited v Valve Corporation (Case 1640/7/7/24). The class representative alleges that Valve abused a dominant position (including commission and platform rules) and that affected consumers are owed compensation. The Tribunal granted a collective proceedings order (CPO) on an opt-out basis in [2026] CAT 4 (judgment published 26 January 2026). A Collective Proceedings Order was made on 11 March 2026. The links below include the Tribunal notice, judgments, and the claimant’s site for full detail.

The class period in the Tribunal-directed notice runs from 4 June 2018 to 4 June 2024 for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and from 1 January 2010 to 4 June 2024 for Scotland, for qualifying purchases of PC games and/or add-on content (including via Steam or other distribution channels, as described in the official notice). Whether someone is in the class also depends on domicile on 11 March 2026 and other criteria in that notice. Under the notice, UK-domiciled class members who wish to leave must opt out; some people who are not UK-domiciled on that date but meet other criteria may opt in if they wish to join. Opt-out and opt-in requests must be received or postmarked by 11 June 2026, per the official notice. This site does not advise whether to opt in or out.

If such claims succeed, large payouts or liability could affect Steam's terms, regional pricing, or game availability. Use the official notice (PDF link below), the claimant's site (steamyouoweus.co.uk), and the CAT judgment materials for exact definitions, procedures, and deadlines.

This class action is in the US District Court for the Western District of Washington (Case No. 2:21-cv-00563). It targeted people or entities who paid commission to Valve in connection with the sale or use of a game on the Steam platform between January 28, 2017 and November 25, 2024. The opt-out deadline for the publisher/developer class was September 2, 2025; that deadline has passed.

A similar suit on behalf of game publishers and developers has already passed a motion to dismiss and been certified as a class action. Separately, a consumer class (consumers who purchased PC games via Steam) is now proceeding: consumers were only recently able to pursue their suit after Valve amended the arbitration clause in its user agreement. On May 2, 2025, the Court appointed Cohen Milstein sole Interim Lead Class Counsel for the consumer class. On August 28, 2025, the Court granted an unopposed voluntary dismissal without prejudice for Susann Davis, Hope Marchionda, and Everett Stephens; they are no longer class representatives for the putative consumer class but may remain in the action as absent class members.

Filings and notices describe Steam’s commission using terms such as “anti-competitive” or “excessive”; those are legal arguments in the case, not findings here. For wording, class definitions, and schedules, use the official site and court documents linked below.

On 25 February 2026 the People of the State of New York, by Attorney General Letitia James, filed a complaint in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, against Valve Corporation (Index No. 450952/2026, NYSCEF Doc. No. 2). This is a government enforcement suit under Executive Law § 63(12), not a private class action—there is no class opt-out form analogous to the UK or federal class-action notices on this site.

The Office of the Attorney General alleges that Valve’s games—including Counter-Strike 2, Team Fortress 2, and Dota 2—enable users to pay for a chance to obtain randomly awarded virtual items from “loot boxes,” that cosmetic items can hold significant monetary value, and that users can liquidate value through the Steam Community Market and third-party marketplaces. The complaint asserts causes of action based on Article I, Section 9 of the New York State Constitution and Penal Law §§ 225.05 (promoting gambling in the second degree) and 225.10 (promoting gambling in the first degree), as remedies through Executive Law § 63(12).

The prayer for relief asks the court, among other things, to permanently enjoin alleged violations; order an accounting; order restitution to consumers and disgorgement; impose a fine of three times the amount of gain under Penal Law § 80.10 where applicable; award $2,000 costs under CPLR § 8303(a)(6); and grant further relief. The Attorney General’s press release summarises the filing and the relief sought at a high level.

Valve publishes a Steam Support FAQ page about this lawsuit. The links below include the verified complaint, the Attorney General’s press release, and that FAQ as primary sources.