A British digital rights activist has initiated legal action against Valve, seeking £656 million in damages over accusations of anti-competitive conduct

Valve is facing a substantial £656 million collective legal action, instigated by digital rights advocate Vicki Shotbolt, who claims the company has abused its market position to inflate prices for 14 million UK consumers.

The lawsuit was officially submitted to the Competition Appeal Tribunal on June 5.

"Valve is manipulating the market to the disadvantage of UK gamers," Shotbolt shared with BBC News.

She emphasized that the lawsuit aims "to halt this illegal practice and reimburse those affected."

The accusation extends to Valve allegedly imposing pricing constraints on publishers and taking commissions that can reach up to 30%.

A statement on the claim's associated website declares, "We believe Valve has obstructed competition for PC games and in-game content, consequently making UK consumers overpay for these products."

Milberg London LLP, representing Shotbolt, also represented consumer protection specialist Alex Neill in a similar lawsuit against Sony in 2022, where allegations included overcharging players, developers, and publishers.