Valve: Difference between revisions
m Hyperlinked to class action lawsuit. Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit Visual edit |
Added section detailing Counter-Strike: Global Offensive's replacement by Counter-Strike 2. |
||
| Line 69: | Line 69: | ||
===Steam users do not own their games (2024)=== | ===Steam users do not own their games (2024)=== | ||
[To be worked on] Sources: <ref>{{Cite web |last=Chalk |first=Andy |date=11 Oct 2024 |title=Steam's new disclaimer reminds everyone that you don't actually own your games, GOG moves in for the killshot: Its offline installers 'cannot be taken away from you' |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/steams-new-disclaimer-reminds-everyone-that-you-dont-actually-own-your-games-gog-moves-in-for-the-killshot-its-offline-installers-cannot-be-taken-away-from-you/ |url-status=live |access-date=7 Apr 2025 |website=PC Gamer}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Shakir |first=Umar |date=11 Oct 2024 |title=Steam now says the ‘game’ you’re buying is really just a license |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/11/24267864/steam-buy-purchase-license-digital-storefront |url-status=live |access-date=7 Apr 2025 |website=The Verge}}</ref><!-- Hi SKG people I linked this to, feel free to develop this section! --> | [To be worked on] Sources: <ref>{{Cite web |last=Chalk |first=Andy |date=11 Oct 2024 |title=Steam's new disclaimer reminds everyone that you don't actually own your games, GOG moves in for the killshot: Its offline installers 'cannot be taken away from you' |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/steams-new-disclaimer-reminds-everyone-that-you-dont-actually-own-your-games-gog-moves-in-for-the-killshot-its-offline-installers-cannot-be-taken-away-from-you/ |url-status=live |access-date=7 Apr 2025 |website=PC Gamer}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Shakir |first=Umar |date=11 Oct 2024 |title=Steam now says the ‘game’ you’re buying is really just a license |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/11/24267864/steam-buy-purchase-license-digital-storefront |url-status=live |access-date=7 Apr 2025 |website=The Verge}}</ref><!-- Hi SKG people I linked this to, feel free to develop this section! --> | ||
===PC version of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive replaced by Counter-Strike 2 (2023)=== | |||
Counter-Strike 2, previously available as a 'Limited Test' since March 22nd 2023<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Ali |date=2023-03-22 |title=Here's how to access the Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test {{!}} GamesRadar+ |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/counter-strike-2-limited-test/ |url-status=live |website=GamesRadar}}</ref>, released on September 27th 2023, replacing Counter-Strike: Global Offensive on [[Steam]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bailey |first=Dustin |date=2023-09-27 |title=After 11 years of CS:GO, Counter-Strike 2 has officially replaced the biggest game on Steam {{!}} GamesRadar+ |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/after-11-years-of-csgo-counter-strike-2-has-officially-replaced-the-biggest-game-on-steam/ |url-status=live |website=GamesRadar}}</ref>. This removed access to Global Offensive for those who had purchased it, every mainline PC Counter-Strike game before Global Offensive (Counter-Strike<ref>{{Cite web |title=Counter-Strike on Steam |url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/10/CounterStrike/ |url-status=live |website=Steam}}</ref>, Counter-Strike: Condition Zero<ref>{{Cite web |title=Counter-Strike: Condition Zero on Steam |url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/80/CounterStrike_Condition_Zero/ |url-status=live |website=Steam}}</ref> and Counter-Strike: Source<ref>{{Cite web |title=Counter-Strike: Source on Steam |url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/240/CounterStrike_Source/ |url-status=live |website=Steam}}</ref>) can still be purchased and played on [[Steam]] through a separate library entry so this was an unprecedented move from Valve. | |||
A legacy version of Global Offensive called 'CS:GO Legacy' was released on October 10th 2023<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2023-10-10 |title=Legacy CS:GO Version |url=https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/73EF-08A3-0935-6369 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231010111016/https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/73EF-08A3-0935-6369 |archive-date=2023-10-10}}</ref> after backlash from the Counter-Strike community towards the Counter-Strike 2 launch and Global Offensive replacement. This version can only be accessed while Counter-Strike 2 is installed<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wilde |first=Tyler |date=2023-10-13 |title=How to play CS:GO now that Counter-Strike 2 is out {{!}} PC Gamer |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/you-can-still-play-csgo-at-least-if-you-consider-custom-servers-where-you-fight-final-fantasy-summons-playing-csgo/ |url-status=live |website=PCGamer}}</ref>. Valve committed to supporting this version of the game until January 1st 2024<ref name=":0" /> but in that support window ignored bug reports from the community such as Counter-Strike 2 servers appearing in the community server browser with no way to distinguish these servers from Global Offensive servers unless the server provided what game it was targeting in it's name. CS:GO Legacy received only one update<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-13 |title=Counter-Strike 2 History · Change #20663547 · SteamDB |url=https://steamdb.info/app/730/history/?changeid=20663547 |url-status=live |website=SteamDB}}</ref> during its support window and this update didn't contain any public update notes so it is unclear what this may have fixed. | |||
After the support window for CS:GO Legacy ended, numerous problems started occuring with the game. Global Offensive servers stopped appearing in the CS:GO Legacy community server browser<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-08 |title=CS:GO Legacy servers being rejected from Steam / CS:GO Legacy server browser listings · Issue #4047 · ValveSoftware/csgo-osx-linux |url=https://github.com/ValveSoftware/csgo-osx-linux/issues/4047 |url-status=live |website=GitHub}}</ref> which meant that only external third party server browsers could be used to find Global Offensive servers and these servers have to be added manually unlike [[Steam]]'s server browser which finds and queries new servers automatically. As a point of comparison, the mainline PC Counter-Strike games released before Global Offensive (Counter-Strike, Condition Zero and Source) still have a functional server browser without needing third party intervention. | |||
It also became impossible to use multiple weapons (M4A1-S, USP-S, CZ75-Auto, MP5-SD, R8 Revolver) in regular gameplay as the loadout system used to switch between weapons and equip weapon skins was discontinued. If any of these weapons were equipped before the loadout system discontinuation, they will appear in the game's buy menu but the player will receive their counterparts when purchased. <!-- No references on this except Reddit and Steam Community Forums/Guides exist unfortunately. --> | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
[[Category:Valve Corporation]] | [[Category:Valve Corporation]] | ||
Latest revision as of 14:43, 13 August 2025
Valve Corporation
| Basic information | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1996 |
| Legal structure | Private |
| Industry | Digital distribution, software development, hardware engineering |
| Official website | https://valvesoftware.com/ |
Valve Corporation, also known as Valve Software, was founded in 1996 by Gabe Newell and Mike Harrington. It is the owner of the popular digital software distribution service Steam. Valve additionally develops tools frequently used by various professional and amateur creators, such as Source Filmmaker and the Source Engines.
Legal disputes[edit | edit source]
Steam's predominance has led to Valve becoming involved in various legal cases.[1]
| Dispute Title | Year started and ended
(if concluded) |
Background Information | Aftermath | Related Articles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACCC v. Valve Corporation[2] | 2014–2016 | During this lawsuit, Valve was found by the Australian Federal Court to have refused to offer refunds for faulty or broken products. | Users now have the ability to easily refund games they purchased, so long as they follow the refund policy. | |
| UFC Que Choisir v. Valve Corporation[3] | 2015–2019
(still disputed) |
UFC Que Choisir sued Valve on the grounds that users deserved to resell their digital licenses. | Users in France had the right to resell their digital Steam library, overturned in October 2024. | |
| McLeod v. Valve Corp.[4] | 2016 | MacLeod started the first antitrust case against Valve Corp. over the sale of their games. | Absorbed into another legal dispute; continues to be dismissed within Seattle courts. | |
| Wolfire Games v. Valve Corp.[5] | 2021–2022 | The first notable antitrust case against Valve's unfair market manipulation of their games. | Absorbed into another dispute/now a class action lawsuit.[6] | |
| Sean Colvin (and various others) v. Valve Corporation, CD Projekt S.A., CD Projekt, Inc., Ubisoft Entertainment S.A., Ubisoft, Inc., Ubisoft L.A., Inc., kChamp Games, Inc., Rust, LLC, and Devolver Digital, Inc.[7] | 2021 - Unfinised | Five individuals in California sued Valve (among various other publishers) over participating in anti-competitive behavior with the Steam platform, most notably over the sale of games for lesser prices on other platforms. | Not concluded because of indefinite postponement by Valve. | |
| Bucher Law PLCC v. Valve Corp.[8][9][10] | C.A. 2021 - Unfinished | A companion to previous lawsuits against Valve over their anti-competitive monopoly, this time covering consumers over their purchase of games on Steam. | Not concluded, slowly being arbitrated. |
Anti-Consumer Practices[edit | edit source]
Steam users do not own their games (2024)[edit | edit source]
[To be worked on] Sources: [11][12]
PC version of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive replaced by Counter-Strike 2 (2023)[edit | edit source]
Counter-Strike 2, previously available as a 'Limited Test' since March 22nd 2023[13], released on September 27th 2023, replacing Counter-Strike: Global Offensive on Steam[14]. This removed access to Global Offensive for those who had purchased it, every mainline PC Counter-Strike game before Global Offensive (Counter-Strike[15], Counter-Strike: Condition Zero[16] and Counter-Strike: Source[17]) can still be purchased and played on Steam through a separate library entry so this was an unprecedented move from Valve.
A legacy version of Global Offensive called 'CS:GO Legacy' was released on October 10th 2023[18] after backlash from the Counter-Strike community towards the Counter-Strike 2 launch and Global Offensive replacement. This version can only be accessed while Counter-Strike 2 is installed[19]. Valve committed to supporting this version of the game until January 1st 2024[18] but in that support window ignored bug reports from the community such as Counter-Strike 2 servers appearing in the community server browser with no way to distinguish these servers from Global Offensive servers unless the server provided what game it was targeting in it's name. CS:GO Legacy received only one update[20] during its support window and this update didn't contain any public update notes so it is unclear what this may have fixed.
After the support window for CS:GO Legacy ended, numerous problems started occuring with the game. Global Offensive servers stopped appearing in the CS:GO Legacy community server browser[21] which meant that only external third party server browsers could be used to find Global Offensive servers and these servers have to be added manually unlike Steam's server browser which finds and queries new servers automatically. As a point of comparison, the mainline PC Counter-Strike games released before Global Offensive (Counter-Strike, Condition Zero and Source) still have a functional server browser without needing third party intervention.
It also became impossible to use multiple weapons (M4A1-S, USP-S, CZ75-Auto, MP5-SD, R8 Revolver) in regular gameplay as the loadout system used to switch between weapons and equip weapon skins was discontinued. If any of these weapons were equipped before the loadout system discontinuation, they will appear in the game's buy menu but the player will receive their counterparts when purchased.
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_(service)#Legal_disputes
- ↑ "Federal Court finds Valve made misleading representations about consumer guarantees". ACCC. 29 Mar 2016. Retrieved 7 Apr 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Tough Times Ahead for Digital Video Game Resellers: French Supreme Court Ruling in UFC Que Choisir v. Valve". Fox Mandal. 4 Dec 2024. Retrieved 7 Apr 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ https://casetext.com/case/mcleod-v-valve-corp
- ↑ https://casetext.com/case/wolfire-games-llc-v-valve-corp-7
- ↑ Chalk, Andy (28 Nov 2024). "The antitrust lawsuit against Steam is now a class action, and that could have big repercussions for Valve". PC Gamer. Retrieved 7 Apr 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Gardner, Eriq (28 Jan 2021). "Popular Gaming Platform Accused of Abusing Market Power Through Contracts". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 7 Apr 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ https://www.bucherlawfirm.com/valve
- ↑ "Bucher Law Steam Lawsuit". LawGud. Retrieved 7 Apr 2025.
- ↑ https://www.bucherlawfirm.com/_files/ugd/38f6ef_69ae2fee5c5548538d526669d99be533.pdf
- ↑ Chalk, Andy (11 Oct 2024). "Steam's new disclaimer reminds everyone that you don't actually own your games, GOG moves in for the killshot: Its offline installers 'cannot be taken away from you'". PC Gamer. Retrieved 7 Apr 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Shakir, Umar (11 Oct 2024). "Steam now says the 'game' you're buying is really just a license". The Verge. Retrieved 7 Apr 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Jones, Ali (2023-03-22). "Here's how to access the Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test | GamesRadar+". GamesRadar.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Bailey, Dustin (2023-09-27). "After 11 years of CS:GO, Counter-Strike 2 has officially replaced the biggest game on Steam | GamesRadar+". GamesRadar.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Counter-Strike on Steam". Steam.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Counter-Strike: Condition Zero on Steam". Steam.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Counter-Strike: Source on Steam". Steam.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ 18.0 18.1 "Legacy CS:GO Version". 2023-10-10. Archived from the original on 2023-10-10.
- ↑ Wilde, Tyler (2023-10-13). "How to play CS:GO now that Counter-Strike 2 is out | PC Gamer". PCGamer.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Counter-Strike 2 History · Change #20663547 · SteamDB". SteamDB. 2023-10-13.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "CS:GO Legacy servers being rejected from Steam / CS:GO Legacy server browser listings · Issue #4047 · ValveSoftware/csgo-osx-linux". GitHub. 2025-05-08.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)