Valve, the operator of Steam, is facing a massive class-action lawsuit worth approximately 1.3 trillion won.

On the 26th (local time), the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) approved a large-scale class-action lawsuit against Valve, the operator of the global PC game distribution platform 'Steam.' This decision signifies that judicial scrutiny into the monopolistic practices of giant platforms is intensifying, and it is expected to have a significant impact on the structure of the game distribution market.

The court stated in its ruling that the case meets the requirements for a Collective Proceedings Order (CPO). This follows a hearing held in October 2025. While Valve had argued for the dismissal of the case, claiming that the plaintiffs' allegations were vague and lacked a causal link to consumer harm, the tribunal determined that the matter warrants a full legal proceeding.

The lawsuit was initiated by digital rights activist Vicki Shotbolt. Representing approximately 14 million UK consumers who have purchased games or content on Steam since 2018, she first filed the complaint in June 2024. The total damages sought amount to approximately £656 million (about 1.3 trillion won).

The core argument of the plaintiffs is that Valve has leveraged its dominant market position to stifle competition. In particular, they pointed out that the so-called 'Most Favoured Nation' clauses, which prevent developers and publishers from selling games at lower prices on other platforms, hinder competition and infringe upon consumer choice.

Furthermore, they argued that Steam's high commission fee of up to 30% causes game price inflation, unfairly passing costs onto consumers. The requirement that all additional content (DLC) must be purchased through Steam's internal system was also cited as a violation of antitrust laws.

This is not the first time Valve's pricing policy has faced controversy. In 2021, Wolfire Games in the US filed a similar antitrust lawsuit, and Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney also criticized the policy at Unreal Fest Seoul 2025 last year, stating, "Steam's 30% commission policy is a flawed policy that places an excessive burden on developers."