FAQ

We cover the UK Steam You Owe Us claim (Competition Appeal Tribunal, opt-out collective proceedings for UK consumers who bought PC games or add-on content) and the US In re Valve Antitrust Litigation (Western District of Washington), which has a publisher/developer class and a separate consumer class. We provide summaries, timelines, and links to official resources and court documents so you can make an informed choice.

No. We do not provide legal advice. We only provide information about these lawsuits and links to official, court-authorised sites (e.g. steamyouoweus.co.uk for the UK claim, valvepublisherclassaction.com for the US case). For opt-out procedures, deadlines, and class definitions, always rely on the official notices and, if needed, your own lawyer.

Steam You Owe Us is a UK collective claim filed at the Competition Appeal Tribunal against Valve in relation to its Steam platform. The claim argues that UK PC gamers may have overpaid for games or in-game content due to Valve’s practices (e.g. commission and alleged anti-competitive behaviour). If successful, it could lead to compensation for eligible UK consumers who bought PC games or add-on content in the UK (from 4 June 2018 for England, Wales and Northern Ireland; from 1 January 2010 for Scotland). We oppose the framing of this claim and believe it misuses consumer/competition law; this site explains why and informs you so you can judge for yourself.

The claim asserts that UK gamers were “overcharged,” but that is a legal argument, not a fact. You bought games at the prices displayed. Whether that amounts to “overcharging” in law is contested. We are not telling you to opt in or out of any claim; we are providing information so you can understand the arguments and make your own choice.

The UK Steam You Owe Us claim is brought on an opt-out basis. You are automatically included in the proposed class if you meet the definition (e.g. you paid for PC games or add-on content in the UK from the relevant dates). If you do not want to be part of the claim, you will need to opt out. According to the claimant’s FAQs, you will be given the chance to opt out if the claim is certified—they will publish an option for doing this on their website (steamyouoweus.co.uk) when the claim reaches that stage. We only provide information; we do not tell you to opt in or out.

The US case (In re Valve Antitrust Litigation) has a publisher/developer class (opt-out deadline September 2, 2025, has passed) and a separate consumer class for people who purchased PC games via Steam. The court appointed Cohen Milstein as Interim Lead Class Counsel for the consumer class in May 2025; that part of the case is ongoing. For official information and any consumer opt-out or deadlines, see valvepublisherclassaction.com and the court-authorised notices.

We believe the claims stretch competition and consumer law by treating standard store commission as “overcharging” and that large payouts or liability could affect Steam’s terms, regional pricing, or game availability. We also think it is important that consumers and developers understand both sides. We do not support harassment of anyone; we only provide information and, where relevant, opt-out options.

Steam charges a commission (often cited as up to 30%) for games sold on its platform. The claims frame this as excessive or anti-competitive. Many digital storefronts charge similar or higher fees; whether that is legally “overcharging” is disputed. We believe the commission is a normal part of running a store and that treating it as automatic grounds for compensation misuses the law.

The UK claim promises potential compensation (e.g. estimates of £22–£44 per person). Even if that were paid, the long-term effects could include changes to Steam’s business model, regional pricing, or developer revenue share—which could hurt the ecosystem. We think the trade-offs are worth understanding before supporting the claim.

In re Valve Antitrust Litigation is a class action in the US District Court for the Western District of Washington (Case No. 2:21-cv-00563). The publisher/developer class includes people or entities who, directly or through an agent, paid a 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 that class was September 2, 2025; that deadline has passed. There is also a separate consumer class (people who purchased PC games via Steam) that is proceeding with different counsel. The official court-authorised site is valvepublisherclassaction.com.

The opt-out deadline for the publisher/developer class was September 2, 2025 (11:59:59 PM Pacific). That deadline has passed. For current status and any other options, see the court-authorised website valvepublisherclassaction.com. We only link to that information; we do not provide legal advice.

If Valve faces large liability or payouts, it could respond by changing store terms, revenue share, or regional pricing. Indie and small publishers often have the most to lose from storefront uncertainty. We believe the US and UK claims both mischaracterise Steam’s commission and that succeeding could harm the ecosystem.

The claims argue that Steam’s commission is excessive or anti-competitive. That view is contested. Many digital storefronts charge similar or higher fees. We believe treating standard store commission as automatically illegal stretches competition law and can hurt developers and consumers in the long run.