The antitrust lawsuit filed against Valve by Wolfire Games in 2021 has now been certified as a class action, significantly broadening its scope.
Initially focused on Wolfire and Dark Catt Studios, the class action now includes anyone who has sold games on Steam since 2017.
Wolfireโs lawsuit alleges that Valve abuses its dominant position in the PC gaming market to suppress competition and take an unfairly large share of salesโtypically 30%, though it drops to 20% for higher-volume sales.
This is now being challenged, as other platforms like the Epic Games Store and Microsoft charge only 12% in commission.
The ruling applies to anyone who paid Valve a commission in connection with a Steam sale since January 2017.
If Wolfire and Dark Catt prevail, Valve could face substantial compensation payments, possibly leading to changes in Steam’s revenue-sharing policies.
The judge also denied Valveโs attempt to exclude expert testimony from Dr. Steven Schwartz, which further complicates the situation for the company as the lawsuit continues.