There is currently an active class action lawsuit against Valve, the company that owns and operates Steam, a computer gaming platform and store. The lawsuit was filed in 2021 by game developer Wolfire Games, and it alleges that Valve is using its monopoly power to force game publishers to sell their games through Steam and to pay Valve supra-competitive commissions. The lawsuit also alleges that this conduct causes gamers to pay more for games.
Valve has denied any wrongdoing and has stated that it is committed to providing a fair and ethical experience for both developers and gamers. The lawsuit is still pending, and it is unclear how it will be resolved.
In addition to the class action lawsuit filed by Wolfire Games, there are also a number of individual lawsuits pending against Valve. These lawsuits allege a variety of different claims, including copyright infringement, trademark infringement, and unfair competition.
Valve has denied any wrongdoing in all of these lawsuits. The lawsuits are still pending, and it is unclear how they will be resolved.
It is important to note that these are just allegations, and Valve has not been found guilty of any wrongdoing. However, the fact that there are multiple lawsuits pending against the company suggests that there may be some merit to the allegations.
If you are concerned about the impact of Valve’s business practices on gamers, you may want to consider supporting alternative gaming platforms, such as Epic Games Store or GOG.com. You may also want to contact your elected officials and urge them to support legislation that would promote competition in the video game industry.
