Video game giant Valve sued for £656m over claims of market abuse

The claim against Valve Corporation has been filed at the Competition Appeal Tribunal in London and accuses the company of “shutting out” competition in the PC gaming market.

It states that Valve “forces” game publishers to agree to price parity obligations to stop titles from being sold at cheaper prices on rival platforms.

“Valve is rigging the market and taking advantage of UK gamers,” said digital rights campaigner Vicki Shotbolt, who is bringing the case.

She added that Steam charges an “excessive commission of up to 30 per cent”, forcing UK consumers pay too much for purchasing PC games and add-on content.

Natasha Pearman Milberg London LLP, which is bringing the group action, stated: “Competition law is there to protect consumers and ensure that markets work properly.

“When they don’t work properly and consumers are harmed, collective actions of this kind provide consumers with a voice and a way of holding big companies, like Valve, to account.”