Steam

Are you one of millions of PC gamers who have been ripped off?

Valve Corporation – who owns gaming platform Steam – is accused in £656m compensation lawsuit of blocking competition and overcharging 14m UK consumers.

Online video game platform Steam is facing a £656 million collective action claim for overcharging 14 million PC gamers in the UK. 

You could be eligible for compensation if you paid for PC video games or add-on content (including subscription payments) in the UK from 5 June 2018. Sign up to Consumer Voice to stay updated.

Gaming giant Steam accused in compensation claim

The lawsuit accuses Valve Corporation of shutting out competition in the PC gaming market by forcing game publishers to sign up to ‘price parity’ obligations that dictate Steam always has the ‘best price’ and prevents the same games being sold at a cheaper price on rival platforms. 

This has enabled the gaming giant to continue charging an excessive commission – of up to 30% – to publishers and has led to UK consumers paying too much for purchasing PC games and add-on content. 

Are you one of 14m PC gamers who could be owed money?

Any affected UK consumer could get back up to £44 if the claim is won. 

The claim is seeking compensation for everyone who paid for PC video games or add-on content (including subscription payments) in the UK from 5 June 2018. 

You don’t have to be a gamer to be able to claim. Parents who have paid for the game for their child may be eligible, for instance. 

The claim against Steam

Vicki Shotbolt, a leading children’s digital rights campaigner, and law firm Milberg London are accusing Valve Corporation of abusing its dominant position in the UK market to overcharge millions of UK PC gamers.

Shotbolt has secured funding to cover the costs of the legal claim. This means you won’t have to pay a penny to have your interests represented. All they need to do now is sign up to stay updated as the claim progresses. 

How to claim compensation?

The specialist competition court has yet to give the go-ahead for the claim to go to trial – see ‘What’s happening with this claim’. If the claim is won then anyone who has bought PC games or add-on content will be eligible for compensation. Sign up to Consumer Voice to stay updated.