Valve Ends Retail Steam Gift Cards After 14 Years as Scam Risks Persist Into Late 2026
Updated
Updated · Windows Central · Jun 10
Valve Ends Retail Steam Gift Cards After 14 Years as Scam Risks Persist Into Late 2026
3 articles · Updated · Windows Central · Jun 10
Summary
Valve said physical Steam gift cards will no longer be restocked at retailers, with remaining inventory expected to sell through by the end of 2026.
2012-launched retail cards are being phased out because scammers keep using gift-card codes to defraud vulnerable people, despite warnings, sales limits, currency restrictions and removals tied to abnormal activity.
Existing physical cards will still be honored, and Valve will continue selling digital Steam gift cards introduced in 2017 because they are less susceptible to these scams.
Valve said the move follows years of work with retailers and law enforcement, underscoring how hard gift-card fraud remains to stop across major consumer brands.