Game Developers Sue Valve Over Steam's 30% Commission and Alleged US Storefront Monopoly
Updated
Updated · South West Londoner · Jul 2
Game Developers Sue Valve Over Steam's 30% Commission and Alleged US Storefront Monopoly
2 articles · Updated · South West Londoner · Jul 2
Summary
US game developers have launched legal action against Valve, arguing Steam’s 30% cut reflects an unfair monopoly in the online PC storefront market.
Steam lowers that commission only after a game earns more than $10 million, a structure critics say favors larger studios and leaves indie developers under heavier pressure.
One indie developer said Steam fees, VAT, sales tax and US withholding tax can erase about 60% of revenue before local taxes, pushing some creators to consider higher game prices.
The lawsuit lands as gaming costs are already rising: Xbox consoles are at least $120 more expensive than last October, after price increases from Nintendo and Sony earlier this year.
That squeeze comes as the industry moves further toward digital distribution, with PlayStation saying it will stop producing game discs from 2028.