Valve Faces Expanded Lawsuit as Court Grants Class Action Status to Wolfire and Dark Catt

The ongoing legal dispute between Valve and two game development studios, Wolfire Studios and Dark Catt Studios, has taken a significant turn with the court granting class action status to the lawsuit. This development transforms the case into a potentially much larger dispute, pitting the Steam platform operator against a broader group of developers and publishers. According to court documents, the class action certification applies to all developers, publishers, and individuals who have paid Valve a commission on game sales since January 28, 2017, specifically referencing the 30% revenue cut taken by Steam on each purchase. The court's decision also denied Valve's request to exclude expert testimony from Dr. Steven Schwartz, who was called by the studios to support their claims of anti-competitive practices. Wolfire Studios and Dark Catt Studios will serve as the representatives for the class action. The lawsuit, initially filed by Wolfire in April 2021, alleges that Valve's 30% commission is excessively high and constitutes anti-competitive behavior, exploiting both publishers and consumers. After an initial dismissal in November 2021, the case was updated and refiled in May 2022. Dark Catt Studios had also filed a separate antitrust lawsuit against Valve in June 2021, parts of which were dismissed in November 2021 but allowed to proceed in a consolidated case as of July 2022.