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Valve Fights NY AG Over "Illegal Gambling" Claims
12 Mar
Summary
- Valve disputes NY AG's "illegal gambling" claim over loot boxes.
- Company argues virtual items are cosmetic and transferable.
- Valve will fight lawsuit but comply with legislative changes.
Valve has announced its intention to contest a lawsuit filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James. The lawsuit accuses the company of promoting illegal gambling via loot boxes in games such as Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, and Team Fortress 2. Valve expressed disappointment with the claims, asserting that its mystery boxes are common in gaming and akin to physical collectibles like baseball cards or Pokémon cards.
The company stated it has been working with Attorneys General since 2023 to explain its virtual item system. Valve maintains that opening mystery boxes is optional and that the items acquired are primarily cosmetic. It specifically objects to proposals that would make virtual items non-transferable, arguing this feature benefits consumers by allowing trading or selling of unwanted items.
Valve also raised concerns about demands for additional user data to track VPN usage and implement age verification, noting existing payment methods already include age checks. The company believes the demands from the NYAG were excessive and would hinder innovation, opting for a legal challenge over a potentially detrimental settlement.
