Dutch consumer foundation Stichting Consumenten Competition Claims (CCC) has launched legal proceedings against Valve Corporation, the company behind the world’s largest PC gaming platform, Steam.
The case, branded “GameClaim,” represents roughly two million Dutch PC gamers who have purchased games via digital storefronts going as far back as 2013.
In its claim, the foundation argues that Valve exploits its estimated 85% stranglehold on the PC gaming market to keep game prices artificially higher than they would otherwise be under genuine competition.
A key mechanism cited in the complaint is the use of pricing parity clauses. These terms reportedly prevent game devs from offering their titles at lower prices on rival platforms such as the Epic Games Store, keeping the broader market inflated.
The CCC also takes aim at Valve’s standard 30% commission on all game sales and in-game transactions. They argue this cut is not a product of fair market competition but rather a reflection of unchecked monopoly power.
Since then, Valve has pushed back against the allegations, maintaining their stance on the topic that consumers have no shortage of alternatives and that its dominance in the PC gaming market is simply the result of building a superior platform.
It’s noteworthy that the 30% commission, which is frequently cited as evidence of monopolistic behavior, is also the standard rate charged by PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, and Apple.
The CCC is currently pursuing an out-of-court settlement before escalating things further. However, the foundation has made it clear that it is willing to pursue formal litigation for up to three to five years if Valve refuses to come to the table.
This isn’t the first time Valve has been on the receiving end of a lawsuit involving Steam. We saw a similar class action back in early 2026 in the United Kingdom, which carries a valuation of around €756 million.
Meanwhile, independent developers in the United States are separately pushing antitrust claims against Valve over broadly similar platform practices. The legal pressure on Steam is mounting on multiple fronts, and how Valve responds in the Netherlands could set a significant precedent for the cases still to come.