The Competition Appeal Tribunal has allowed a collective claim against Valve to proceed, but it has not ruled that Valve broke the law or ordered it to pay £656 million. That figure is a provisional estimate of potential aggregate damages. The proposed case concerns whether Valve’s Steam terms and commissions harmed UK consumers who bought PC games or add-on content.
What the lawsuit alleges
Vicki Shotbolt Class Representative Limited alleges that Valve abused its dominant position through three practices affecting PC games and add-on content, including subscriptions. These are claims made by the proposed class representative, not findings the Tribunal has made about Valve’s conduct.
Platform parity obligations
The claim says Valve’s terms restrict publishers from selling the same products through other channels on better terms than those available on Steam. The proposed class representative argues that this limits competition between sales channels.
Restrictions on in-game payment routes
The claim also alleges that publishers wishing to offer in-game purchases in Steam-distributed games must use Steam’s API and Valve’s payment service, where commissions apply.
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Commissions and consumer costs
The proposed class representative says Valve’s commissions are excessive and that their cost is passed on to consumers. Whether the alleged practices occurred as claimed, and whether they caused consumer loss, remains to be decided.
Why the case can proceed—and what the Tribunal decided
On 26 January 2026, the Competition Appeal Tribunal granted a collective proceedings order (CPO) on an opt-out basis. The decision was about whether the case met the requirements to proceed collectively; it was not a trial or a decision on whether Valve is liable. The Tribunal’s Registry summary states: “The Tribunal therefore concluded that the certification criteria were satisfied and it was appropriate to grant a CPO on an opt-out basis.”
Valve opposed certification on three main grounds, according to the Tribunal summary:
- It argued that the proposed method for calculating Valve’s effective commission did not adequately account for Steam Keys.
- It argued that the proposed class representative had not offered an adequate empirical method to measure the effects of the parity obligations.
- It challenged the proposed class definition.
The Tribunal considered that uncertainty around Steam Keys could be estimated using multiple data sources, found the parity case capable of effective trial, and accepted revisions to the class definition. Those certification-stage conclusions allow the claims to be tested; they do not establish that the alleged conduct or consumer harm occurred.
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What the £656 million figure means
The Tribunal’s 2026 Registry summary gives a provisional estimate of up to £656 million in aggregate damages. It is not compensation already awarded, a finding that Valve owes money, or a guaranteed amount for any individual. The amount, if any, ultimately recoverable would depend on the outcome of the case and the assessment of any loss.
Who the proposed class could include
The Tribunal summary describes a proposed class of up to 14 million UK-based consumers who bought PC games or add-on content, including subscriptions, during the relevant period. Purchases may have been made on Steam or other platforms. This is a potential class size, not a confirmed list of eligible people or a count of claimants entitled to payment.
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The Registry summary points to the claim form for the relevant-period definition. The exact start and end dates, detailed eligibility rules and exclusions should not be inferred from the headline class description.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Current status and next listed events
The Tribunal’s case page records the proceedings as a section 47B collective application combining standalone claims under section 47A of the Competition Act 1998, alleging infringements of section 18 of that Act and Article 102 TFEU. The listed events show the case moving through case management, not a completed trial.
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| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 13 May 2025 | Case management conference |
| 14 October 2025 | Hearing on the CPO application |
| 26 January 2026 | Judgment granting the CPO application |
| 11 March 2026 | CPO order and costs order listed on the case page |
| 22 June 2026 | Case management conference to consider disclosure directions |
| 9 December 2026 | Listed case management conference, estimated at one day |
| 18 March 2027 | Listed case management conference, estimated at one day, with one day in reserve |
The case page lists no trial date. Dates and events can change; the Tribunal’s case page is the place to check for updates.
What UK Steam users should do now
The CPO allows the collective case to continue; it does not itself create a payment process or confirm that every Steam user qualifies. The official pages reviewed do not establish a compensation application process. Readers should avoid treating an unsolicited message or an unverified service as proof that they can claim money, and should check official case updates before acting.
Quick Recap
Sources
- Competition Appeal Tribunal, Registry summary of Judgment (CPO Application), [2026] CAT 4.
- Competition Appeal Tribunal case page.
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