The state of New York has filed an official lawsuit against the Steam developer valveIt is alleged that there is robbery in such games Dota 2 Promote illegal gambling to children. Valve has evolved into a titan of the gaming industry since its origins as a developer of games half life and Team FortressBuilding one of the world's largest online platforms. Boasting a staggering library of over 100,000 games on the storefront, Steam stands as the largest marketplace for PC games by a wide margin. Valve has also continued to develop its own games alongside the success of Steam.
Outside of its role as owner of Steam, Valve has launched a plethora of popular online games. Dota 2 and Counter-Strike 2 Continue to boast strong player counts with increasingly competitive scenes, each seeing hundreds of thousands of players log in daily. Valve is also working on a brand-new IP, a multiplayer shooter DeadlockCurrently only available to play through invitations from other players who have access to the game. Now, Valve finds itself facing a new issue related to loot boxes in its games.
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Valve is suing Loot Box
New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit against Valve over the company's use of loot boxes in games. The formal complaint alleges that Valve promotes illegal gambling with its loot boxes, saying the boxes are marketed toward children. James argues that Valve's loot boxes constitute an “excellent gamble,” citing the high variance in item prices while generating significant revenue from the game's mechanics. The lawsuit is officially seeking compensation for players who purchase loot boxes in games. Team Fortress 2Finding a fine worth three times the value of Valve's profit from its loot box. Valve has not officially commented on the case.
James further attacked Valve's market model for its loot boxes, referencing both the core system and the impact of Steam's market. The attorney general cited an unnamed Valve game that has an interface similar to a slot machine, claiming the company made billions from loot boxes. The Steam Marketplace was also a point of focus for Attorney General James, promoting the resale market in the Steam Community Market, where players can sell their in-game items won through loot boxes.
Loot boxes have been a hot-button issue within the gaming industry in recent years, with many states and territories lobbying against the practice. Brazil signed a law in late 2025 banning the purchase of loot boxes by gamers under 18, following in the footsteps of countries like Belgium and the Netherlands. of HoYoverse Genshin effect In early 2025, the US Federal Trade Commission hit with a $20 million USD fine, coupled with gacha mechanics to get new characters within the game. EA has faced fines related to the use of loot boxes before.
The loot box lawsuit comes on the heels of Valve scoring a big win in another recent legal case. A judge in Washington has ruled in favor of Valve in a lawsuit against Leigh Rothschild, a known “patent troll,” and his legal team over a patent focused on cloud-based storage. Valve first filed suit in 2023 after engaging in several prior legal battles with Rothschild, brought as a counterclaim after Rothschild sued the company for patent infringement despite a perpetual license to use the patented materials. Valve's recent legal woes could have major implications for the gaming industry as the war against loot boxes rages on.
Source: Reuters
