Epic Games Backs $900M Lawsuit as Steam Faces UK Antitrust Showdown
Pressure is building around the world’s biggest PC game store and this time the challenge is coming from the courts and from its fiercest rival. A UK tribunal has cleared the way for a massive lawsuit against Valve, the company behind Steam and Epic Games is now openly backing the case.
At the center of this legal fight is a claim worth roughly nine hundred million dollars. It alleges that Valve has abused its dominant position in PC gaming by locking players and developers into Steam and by charging commissions that critics say are unfairly high. Steam takes up to thirty percent from game sales and add-on content and the lawsuit argues that this cost ultimately gets passed on to players.
The case has been brought on behalf of as many as fourteen million UK gamers. The argument is simple but powerful. Valve is accused of making it harder for developers to sell games cheaper elsewhere and of forcing players to keep buying downloadable content through Steam once they are in its ecosystem. According to the claim, that limits competition, reduces choice and keeps prices higher than they should be.
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Valve has pushed back strongly, saying its practices are standard across the industry and that developers are free to sell games wherever they choose. Many gamers also defend Steam, pointing out its huge library, frequent discounts and reliable service. Polls suggest a large share of PC players do not believe Valve has done anything illegal.
But the court has now decided the case deserves a full hearing and that alone is a major moment. It means judges believe there is enough substance here to examine whether Steam’s market power crosses the line.
That is where Epic Games comes in. Epic, which runs the Epic Games Store and famously cut its own commission to twelve percent, has long criticized the thirty percent model used by Steam and others. Epic’s chief executive has publicly supported the lawsuit, arguing that Steam’s policies hurt competition and make it harder for alternative stores to thrive.
Why does this matter beyond one company or one country. Because if the lawsuit succeeds, it could reshape how digital game stores operate worldwide. It could pressure platforms to lower fees, loosen restrictions and give developers and players more freedom. And if it fails, it could reinforce the current system that has defined PC gaming for more than a decade.
This case will move slowly, but its implications are huge. For gamers, developers and the entire tech industry, this is a legal battle worth watching closely. Stay with us as this story develops and keep following for the decisions that could redefine the future of PC gaming.
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