Wolfire and Dark Catt's Antitrust Lawsuit Against Valve Gains Class Action Status
The legal battle against Valve just got a significant upgrade. A U.S. District Court has granted class action status to the consolidated antitrust lawsuit filed by Wolfire Studios and Dark Catt Studios. The case, originally initiated in 2021, challenges Valve's 30% commission on game sales through Steam, claiming it constitutes anti-competitive behavior.
Wolfire’s Claims: Filed in April 2021, Wolfire accused Valve of abusing its dominant market position to charge "extraordinarily high" fees, harming both developers and consumers.
Dark Catt’s Claims: Joined the fray in June 2021, with similar accusations of anti-competitive practices.
Consolidation: In July 2022, the two lawsuits were merged due to overlapping arguments.
With the class action certification granted by Judge Jamal N. Whitehead, the lawsuit now extends its scope to cover all developers, publishers, or individuals who paid Valve’s 30% commission for game sales from January 28, 2017, onward.
This ruling mirrors a broader trend of legal challenges in the gaming industry. For instance, Sony is currently embroiled in its own class action lawsuit over restricting digital game code sales to its PlayStation Store, which plaintiffs argue inflates game prices.
The class action against Valve is still in its early stages, and similar cases—like Sony’s—can take years to resolve. For now, both Wolfire and Dark Catt will serve as the class representatives, bolstered by expert testimony from Dr. Steven Schwartz.
What’s your take on Valve’s 30% cut—justified market practice or monopolistic? And do you think this lawsuit will succeed in reshaping the digital distribution landscape? Drop your thoughts in the comments!
