Does Steam Block Cheap Game Prices?
Steam has long been a platform closely followed by both gamers and developers due to its strong position in the PC gaming market. However, Valve’s influence over the store has been questioned again with a new lawsuit. In an antitrust case filed by independent developers, it is alleged that Valve prevented games from being sold cheaper on other digital stores and exerted pressure for price equalization.
Steam Demands Price Equality
According to lawsuit documents revealed by Bloomberg, Valve may have taken a very tough stance against games on Steam being offered at more affordable prices on other stores. Ubisoft and Warner Bros. are particularly highlighted as examples in the lawsuit. Allegedly, Valve reacted to Ubisoft offering a cheaper Rainbow Six Siege Starter Pack on its own store, Uplay, and demanded that this price difference be quickly rectified.
The package in question was priced at $15 on Uplay, but the same option was not available on Steam. This made the cheapest Rainbow Six Siege option on Steam more expensive. The lawsuit documents allege that Valve pressured Ubisoft to correct this difference quickly. This example sparked a significant debate about how the platform handles price discrepancies.
A similar situation is alleged to have occurred with Warner Bros. In 2017, during the Middle-earth: Shadow of War pre-order process, Valve allegedly removed pre-orders, citing the game’s price on Steam as significantly higher than the same version on other stores. The lawsuit also states that Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment President David Haddad attempted to resolve the issue directly with Valve.
Valve denies having an official policy on price parity. However, emails and statements presented in the lawsuit suggest that developers may have felt pressured to offer more aggressive discounts on stores other than Steam. Steam, given its massive influence in the PC gaming market, seems likely to come under more scrutiny regarding such allegations. This lawsuit has reignited the debate about competition and price freedom in digital game stores.
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