PC gamers win the first battle against Valve Corporation as £656m competition claim receives judicial approval
The UK specialist competition tribunal has certified the £656m legal claim against Valve brought by children’s rights campaigner, Vicki Shotbolt. This marks a significant first victory for the class of around 14 million PC gamers against Valve – the owner of popular gaming platform, Steam.
The claim alleges that Valve has abused its dominant position in the PC gaming market under UK competition law by imposing excessive commission charges and anti-competitive restrictions on game developers selling gaming titles on the Steam platform.
These excessive commission charges are passed onto consumers by way of increased prices for PC games and in-game content.
Ms Shotbolt, the class representative, asserts that Valve’s conduct has increased the prices of games across the entire market. Therefore the class is not limited to Steam users but also includes purchasers of PC games and downloadable content on other gaming platforms and distribution channels.
Fuck this title. Pc gamers are not in a battle against valve. We willingly gave them the pseudo-monopoly they have because they’re the only company that treats us right. All the competition has to do to break it is be decent but they all fail at the bare minimum.
I think it’s less of a monopoly and more of the fact that they won the market share game. I could buy all my games somewhere else but I don’t know why I would do something so stupid.
„PC Gamers“ are not a monolith. I buy games on Steam if they are not available anywhere else. It’s not like I have an option, I‘d prefer a non-US, DRM-free alternative, like GOG.
Anyone has a run-down of her actual motives? Ties to the industry or something ? Also someone give them a link to the Nintendo store if they want to see overpriced games…
I’m going to guess (this is speculation) that Shotbolt & co. are sanctimonious, self-serving ambulance chaser dipshits. Wolfire and Epic opened the sluice gate and they wanted a slice of the cake in a different jurisdiction. Whatever payout the “gamers” might ever receive (this is NOT speculation) will amount to literal pennies while the lawyers barristers take home millions.
You’re still talking about steam issued keys right? Why should they not have binding terms over those? Publishers can still issue licenses for their games a whatever cost using other drm systems can’t they?
Honestly this reeks of bad faith.
The only person I’ve ever heard of complaining about the Valve/Steam “monopoly” and their 30% dev cut is Tim “I think AiGen CSAM is okay” Sweeney. And who gives a fuck what that diddler apologist thinks.
This is an important moment for any gamer who has purchased a Steam enabled game. That includes millions of gamers who have been impacted by the unfair practices that have resulted in them being overcharged.
No other platform are giving me 90% discount and regional pricing, and Epic Game Store price isn’t any cheaper despite collecting less charge. She might come with a right mindset but suing a wrong cause, and will probably not gonna win.
Anyone who has purchased PC games or add-on content in the UK between 4 June 2018 to 4 June 2024, is automatically included and potentially entitled to compensation if the case is won. Consumers are encouraged to sign-up at https://steamyouoweus.co.uk/ to be kept up to date on the case.
Collective proceedings involve a claim brought by a class representative on behalf of a defined group of persons who have suffered loss as a result of a breach of competition law. There is no guarantee that compensation will be made available in the future – the case must first be won in the Competition Appeal Tribunal, unless an earlier settlement is agreed.
And it’ll total to about a buck for each person that claims, because the lawyers are going to take almost all the money and you’re suckling their bollocks for no reason
Probably closer to 20 pounds if they are awarded the full amount, and the general rule seems to be that the lawyers get about 30%, but the overall sentiment of your statement is correct.
The claim alleges that Valve has abused its dominant position in the PC gaming market under UK competition law by imposing excessive commission charges and anti-competitive restrictions on game developers selling gaming titles on the Steam platform.
These excessive commission charges are passed onto consumers by way of increased prices for PC games and in-game content.
Imposing Platform Parity Obligations (“PPOs”), that prohibit publishers from selling Products through other distribution channels on better terms than the same Products are available on Steam.
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Fuck this title. Pc gamers are not in a battle against valve. We willingly gave them the pseudo-monopoly they have because they’re the only company that treats us right. All the competition has to do to break it is be decent but they all fail at the bare minimum.
I think it’s less of a monopoly and more of the fact that they won the market share game. I could buy all my games somewhere else but I don’t know why I would do something so stupid.
„PC Gamers“ are not a monolith. I buy games on Steam if they are not available anywhere else. It’s not like I have an option, I‘d prefer a non-US, DRM-free alternative, like GOG.
You’ll have to convince those other developers to release on GOG. It’s not Valve preventing them from doing so.
Anyone has a run-down of her actual motives? Ties to the industry or something ? Also someone give them a link to the Nintendo store if they want to see overpriced games…
I’m going to guess (this is speculation) that Shotbolt & co. are sanctimonious, self-serving ambulance chaser dipshits. Wolfire and Epic opened the sluice gate and they wanted a slice of the cake in a different jurisdiction. Whatever payout the “gamers” might ever receive (this is NOT speculation) will amount to literal pennies while the
lawyersbarristers take home millions.It is speculation, yes. This is about consumer rights.
You spent the better part of the week spewing contrarian nonsense. What are you trying to achieve? Are you farming downvotes?
It may be contrarian to this community, but here is the official summary and it sounds fair: https://www.catribunal.org.uk/judgments/16407724-vicki-shotbolt-class-representative-limited-v-valve-corporation-judgment-cpo
Why should Valve prevent larger discounts on other stores? It’s shitty business.
You’re still talking about steam issued keys right? Why should they not have binding terms over those? Publishers can still issue licenses for their games a whatever cost using other drm systems can’t they? Honestly this reeks of bad faith.
Downvotes aren’t recorded. They don’t add up to anything. Be a shit troll all you want, but in the end you’re just spinning your wheels.
Absolute hogwash.
As a PC gamer I don’t really feel any need for a class action lawsuit against Valve. The cunts at EA or Ubisoft however…
The only person I’ve ever heard of complaining about the Valve/Steam “monopoly” and their 30% dev cut is Tim “I think AiGen CSAM is okay” Sweeney. And who gives a fuck what that diddler apologist thinks.
Pretty sure this is paid propaganda.
By whom?
the ones who want to take down valve because they dont want to compete by providing better service.
The deep state
No other platform are giving me 90% discount and regional pricing, and Epic Game Store price isn’t any cheaper despite collecting less charge. She might come with a right mindset but suing a wrong cause, and will probably not gonna win.
Wtf am I winning here? Will I see any money from this £656m amount?
And it’ll total to about a buck for each person that claims, because the lawyers are going to take almost all the money and you’re suckling their bollocks for no reason
Probably closer to 20 pounds if they are awarded the full amount, and the general rule seems to be that the lawyers get about 30%, but the overall sentiment of your statement is correct.
So this looks like a weaponizing of children. I doubt that will work out well.
Ah yes, those expensive PC games. Much cheaper on console and on the first party stores of the publishers, yes yes.
Valve is the only online platform i trust, I don’t prefer valve because it is a monopoly but because the other platforms are trash.
This reads like a significant increase. Umm…?
https://www.catribunal.org.uk/judgments/16407724-vicki-shotbolt-class-representative-limited-v-valve-corporation-judgment-cpo
That’s fair actually.
I agree, the law firm link we are commenting on is just terribly written.