Full Breakdown
Valve Accused of Using Delisting Threats to Enforce Price Parity on Steam
6/4/2026, 12:18:02 AM
Alleged Delisting Threats Over Price Parity
Internal emails disclosed in the ongoing antitrust case show Valve pressuring publishers to align Steam prices with those on competing storefronts. The documents indicate that Valve warned Ubisoft it would remove *Rainbow Six Siege* from Steam unless the $15 starter-pack offered on Uplay was matched, giving Ubisoft “until the end of day tomorrow” to act. A similar episode involved Warner Bros. Interactive, where pre-orders for *Middle-earth: Shadow of War* were pulled after Valve deemed the Steam price “significantly higher” than comparable offers elsewhere.
Background & Context
Steam has been the dominant PC game marketplace for more than a decade, supporting roughly 42 million concurrent users and expanding its user base by about 60 % over the past five years. Its market position has attracted multiple legal challenges, including a UK collective-action suit, a New York loot-box lawsuit, and earlier antitrust claims from independent developers.
Key Figures & Groups
- Gabe Newell – Founder and president of Valve.
- Kassidy Gerber – Valve business-development employee who addressed pricing-policy questions.
- Ubisoft – Publisher of *Rainbow Six Siege*.
- Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment – Publisher of *Middle-earth: Shadow of War*, represented by President David Haddad.
- Independent developer coalition – Plaintiffs alleging a “Most Favored Nation” pricing rule.
Data & Statistics
- Steam hosts an estimated 42 million active users at any moment.
- Revenue split on Steam is 70 % to developers and 30 % to Valve, contrasted with the Epic Games Store’s 88 % share for developers after the first $1 million in revenue.
Official Statements & Responses
In a deposition, Newell asserted that Steam does not set prices for developers and emphasized that customers can purchase games on platforms such as Xbox, the Epic Games Store, or directly from developers. Gerber indicated she was unclear about any formal pricing policy and suggested that Valve does not maintain many policies. Valve has denied any wrongdoing in the current lawsuit.
Plaintiffs’ Criticism & Opposition
The filing alleges that Valve enforces a “Most Favored Nation” pricing rule that bars publishers from offering lower prices on rival storefronts, thereby limiting competition and keeping consumer prices high. Similar concerns were raised in a 2021 lawsuit filed by Wolfire Games.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Emails depict explicit threats to delist titles, while Gerber’s testimony denies a formal policy. Plaintiffs cite Gerber’s own quoted remark as evidence of an informal practice, yet no written policy has been produced. The court has not yet ruled on whether these communications constitute a de-facto pricing mandate.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Customers have enormous choice,” — Gabe Newell, Valve founder and president
- “does not have a policy or practice of dictating prices to third-party software developers on other platforms,” — Gabe Newell, deposition transcript
- “Valve allegedly told the publisher it would remove Rainbow Six Siege from Steam "by end of day tomorrow" if the situation was not rectified.” — Internal Valve email (as cited in lawsuit)
- “significantly higher than what was available at other retailers for the same version of the game.” — Valve communication to Warner Bros. Interactive
What’s Next
The antitrust case proceeds through discovery, with further depositions slated for later this year. Parallel actions—including the UK collective suit, the New York loot-box litigation, and an Australian transparency notice—are expected to conclude within twelve months, potentially reshaping Steam’s pricing and listing practices.
