The UK's Competition Appeal Tribunal has ruled that a £656m lawsuit against Valve can move forward, potentially leading to compensation for 14 million Steam users. The case, filed by digital rights activist Vicki Shotbolt in June 2024, accuses Valve of anti-competitive practices that inflate PC game prices. Valve's bid to dismiss the claim was rejected on 26 January 2026.
The lawsuit centres on allegations that Valve, through its Steam platform, has rigged the PC gaming market by imposing restrictive policies. Shotbolt claims Valve enforces price parity clauses, preventing publishers and developers from offering games at lower prices on rival platforms. Additionally, the suit argues that Valve prohibits consumers from buying downloadable content (DLC) for Steam games on other stores, combined with a commission of up to 30 percent, resulting in inflated prices for UK consumers.
Filed in June 2024 and handled by Milberg London LLP, the collective action claim operates on an opt-out basis, representing 14 million Steam users in the UK unless they choose to exclude themselves. It seeks compensation of between £22 and £44 per affected user, totalling £656 million.
Valve contested the certification, arguing that the claimants lacked an adequate methodology for assessing the impact of its platform parity obligations and that the class definition was insufficient, particularly regarding younger users. However, following proposed revisions to the class definition—addressing concerns about minors—the tribunal granted the collective proceedings order (CPO) on 26 January 2026, after a hearing on 14 October 2025. The judgment is referenced as [2026] CAT 4.
This development marks a significant step in UK competition law challenges against tech giants in gaming, similar to a prior case against Sony by the same firm. Valve has been approached for comment but has not yet responded publicly. The case now proceeds toward a potential trial, where the full merits of the anti-competitive claims will be examined.
