Could You Be Owed Compensation for Buying PC Games on Steam?

The claim alleges that Valve Corporation, which owns and operates Steam, used its dominant position in the PC gaming market in a way that restricted competition. It is claimed this led to higher prices for PC games and add-on content than consumers would have paid in a genuinely competitive market. 

The claim alleges that Valve Corporation charges game developers a commission of up to 30% on games and add-on content sold through Steam. It is argued that this commission is excessive in a market with limited competition, particularly where developers are restricted from offering lower prices on rival platforms.

You could be included if you:

• Bought PC games or add-on content in the UK, and
• Made those purchases from June 2018 onwards.

The lawyers behind the case estimate that up to 14 million UK gamers could be affected.

Yes. You must be at least 13 years old to be included in the claim in your own right. If a child under 13 bought PC games or add-on content through Steam, a parent or legal guardian may be able to act on their behalf. The exact process will depend on how the lawyers running the claim handle under-18s if compensation is awarded. 

No. This is an opt-out collective action, which means eligible consumers are automatically included unless they choose to opt out. 
However, if the claim is successful, you will usually need to register to receive any compensation, which is why checking your eligibility and staying informed matters. 

At this stage, no individual compensation amounts are guaranteed. Estimates suggest that affected gamers could be owed between £22 and £44, depending on factors such as:

• How much you spent on PC games or add-on content
• How the court ultimately assesses harm and compensation 

These figures are estimates only and may change as the case progresses. 

This is an opt-out claim. This means you are automatically included in the group action, and could be due compensation, unless you say you don’t want to take part. A court-approved class representative brings the claim on behalf of the whole group, and specialist lawyers run the case in the interests of everyone included. Individual consumers are not assessed or contacted at this stage. Nevertheless, affected individuals will likely need to register to receive compensation when the claims site opens. 

Not necessarily. If the claim is successful, the court will approve a process for sharing compensation. Eligible consumers usually need to register at that stage to receive their share. 

The claim argues that Steam’s pricing can appear competitive because developers are often restricted from offering lower prices on rival platforms. It is alleged these restrictions reduce genuine price competition across the wider PC gaming market — meaning consumers may still pay more overall than they would in a fully competitive environment. 

No. The claim is not about shutting down Steam, limiting game access, or stopping people from playing PC games. It focuses on whether competition rules were broken and whether consumers should be compensated for alleged overcharging. 

A group action claim allows people affected by the same issue to take action together. This strength in numbers helps stand up to big organisations. Join the Claim helps connect people with law firms so these actions have a real impact. 

No. Join the Claim is not a law firm. We explain what the ruling means, help you understand eligibility and signpost you to the official site.  

Opt-out claims work differently to other types of legal action. If you are eligible, you are automatically included in the case unless you choose to opt out. There are no costs to be included in an opt-out claim. If the claim succeeds, deductions (if any) would be explained by the law firm responsible for distributing compensation.