Dutch gamers file €220 million claim against Valve, operator of game platform Steam
A new Dutch class action has been filed against Valve Corporation, the company behind Steam. The case is brought by the Stichting Consumenten Competition Claims (CCC), which has launched the proceedings under the name GameClaim. The foundation acts on behalf of all Dutch PC gamers who have purchased games through Steam or other PC distribution platforms since 2013, IGN Benelux reports.
The foundation claims that Valve holds a dominant position in the market, estimated at around 85%, and is breaching competition law through so-called Most-Favoured Nation clauses. According to the complaint, these terms prevent developers from selling games more cheaply on rival platforms like the Epic Games Store than on Steam. This, they argue, keeps prices across the PC gaming market artificially elevated.
The foundation argues that Valve’s 30 percent cut on all game sales is overly high and reflects monopolistic behaviour.
In alleged tying practices for in-game purchases, players must use the Steam Wallet to complete transactions, with Valve taking another 30 percent commission on those payments. Developers are also barred from referring players in-game to cheaper options available outside Steam.
According to an analysis by economic consultancy Copenhagen Economics, the foundation estimates that Dutch consumers have suffered more than €220 million in total damages. On average, this equates to an estimated €130 in damages per Dutch Steam account, based on roughly 2 million accounts in the Netherlands.
At present, no formal court case has been filed in the Netherlands. The foundation is following a legal pre-action process and has indicated that it intends to first engage in talks with Valve, with the aim of reaching a financial settlement without going to court.
Should Valve decline to enter negotiations or provide compensation, the foundation says it will proceed to court and launch formal litigation. The resulting legal process is expected to last between 3 and 5 years.
In the meantime, Dutch consumers can sign up free of charge through the Consumer Competition Claims website to preserve their potential right to future compensation.
Valve CEO Gabe Newell rejects all claims of monopoly behaviour. The company argued in a conversation with Bloomberg that it does not set prices for external sellers and that consumers have plenty of alternatives, including consoles, competing stores like Epic Games, and direct purchases from developers. Valve maintains that its market position is the result of its platform’s performance and user experience.
The Dutch case is part of a broader international wave of similar legal action. In the United Kingdom, regulators approved a comparable large-scale class action in early 2026, valued at around €756 million. Meanwhile, in the United States, indie developers have launched an antitrust lawsuit against the same industry practices.
In earlier proceedings from 2021 to 2023, the European Commission fined Valve for unlawful geo-blocking practices, involving restrictions on the distribution of games based on users’ location within the EU.
