Did you purchase a PC game or in-game product from Valve’s Steam Store? You and millions of other gamers may have overpaid due to alleged anticompetitive practices in the PC gaming market. Find out your rights »
WHAT’S THE ISSUE?
Hagens Berman’s antitrust attorneys represent consumers in a class-action lawsuit against Valve Corporation for allegedly maintaining an unlawful monopoly in the PC gaming market by restricting price competition. The lawsuit states Valve does this by preventing game developers from discounting the prices they charge for games and in-game products distributed through other PC gaming stores. Valve also bars consumers from using alternative payment processors for in-game purchases, restricting consumer choice and inflating the price for in-game products, according to the complaint.
VALVE’S STEAM STORE EXPLAINED
Valve sells PC games through its online store, the Steam Store, launched in the early 2000s to distribute its own games. Valve quickly expanded Steam’s scope to include distribution of games marketed and sold by third-party PC game publishers. According to attorneys, Valve’s Steam Store achieved market dominance quickly and maintained and enhanced this dominance since, taking a staggering 75% of the annual revenue in the PC games market, thanks to Valve’s allegedly anticompetitive conduct.
HOW VALVE’S STEAM STORE POLICIES HARM CONSUMERS
Valve imposes a 30% tax on game publishers, a burdensome and exorbitant tax which Hagens Berman believes is carried by consumers through inflated prices for PC games and in-game products. “…Valve’s fees, like any other cost of doing business, are built into the prices publishers charge consumers…” the lawsuit states. Valve has sustained its market dominance not by building a superior store and competing exclusively on the merits to win consumers. Instead, Valve maintains its dominance by strangling competition with “nakedly anticompetitive pricing restraints,” according to the lawsuit. Allegedly, Valve prevents any publisher that sells a PC game on Steam from:
-
Selling that game or in-game products on a rival platform for a lower price or
-
Providing additional game content or enhancements on rival platforms
Attorneys say these policies set an artificial cap on pricing and content, harming consumers through inflated pricing and limited competition.
HOW CAN A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT HELP?
Through a class action, individual consumers can collectively bring claims against companies that would otherwise have the upper hand. A class-action lawsuit seeks to level the playing field, bringing strength to collective action to change corrupt practices like price-fixing. Though these measures do not bring immediate relief, they are a time-tested method of holding companies accountable for wrongdoing.
TOP CONSUMER RIGHTS LAW FIRM
Hagens Berman is one of the most successful consumer litigation law firms in the U.S. and has achieved settlements valued at more than $320 billion for class members in lawsuits against Big Tech companies, device manufacturers and others. The firm achieved a $40 million settlement in a lawsuit against Electronic Arts related to its NCAA franchise video game titles. Hagens Berman has achieved many record-breaking victories in antitrust matters, and your claim will be handled by attorneys experienced in consumer law.
NO COST TO YOU
In no case will any class member ever be asked to pay any out-of-pocket sum. In the event Hagens Berman or any other firm obtains a settlement that provides benefits to class members, the court will decide a reasonable fee to be awarded to the legal team for the class.
