The largest name in video game sales is back in court on accusations of illegal coercion, with the platform accused of using its power as a sales driver to force developers to price-match on its platform.
As an online marketplace, Valve clearly has an incentive to ensure that as many of the gaming population as possible use its storefront when purchasing games, to maximize the revenue it receives from the portion of sales that goes to Valve. The marketplace receives a healthy cut of sales on the Steam store, with 30% on the first $10 million, 25% on the next $40 million, and 20% on all subsequent sales, according to a 2018 policy change.
Valve benefits from the convenience of the Steam client, as the massive slice of the market it has carved out means that most PC gamers already have an account. Combined with the frequency of sales across the platform, this makes it easy for PC gamers to simply jump on Steam by default. The biggest threat to the platform, therefore, comes when another option for buying offers substantial savings, making the effort of switching platforms worthwhile.
Operation Sports App
Your ultimate companion for sports gaming. Access in-depth coverage, thoughtful discussion, and a community built around the games—and sports—you love.
Your ultimate sports gaming companion.
The lawsuit alleges that Valve has been aggressive in ensuring that other options can’t get too enticing, including going after some of the other giants of the video game industry.
The lawsuit includes emails alleging that both Warner Bros. and Ubisoft have found themselves on the wrong side of Valve after offering deals on other platforms far better than those they offered on Steam. In the case of Warner Bros., for example, after Valve determined that Middle-Earth: Shadows of Mordor was available at a lower price on Steam, they informed Warner Bros. that the game’s preorders with Valve would be delisted. As the primary source of gaming purchases on PC, this threatens the publisher’s bottom line and puts strong pressure on it to acquiesce.
Valve has denied the allegations during the lawsuit; however, evidence to the contrary has reportedly been presented. The outcome of this lawsuit could significantly impact how Valve operates moving forward and, in turn, the PC gaming market overall.
Published: Jun 2, 2026 10:30 am