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Shops slam Steam "monopoly"

"Publishers are creating a monster."

At least two "major" shops will demand publishers remove Steam functionality from PC games, a new report claims.

If publishers refuse, those retailers will not sell PC games with Steam integration at all.

"Key retailers" fear Valve's digital service has a "monopoly" on the download market, according to MCV.

Sources claimed Steam serves 80 per cent of the PC download sector, and shops are worried that selling games with Steam tech built-in pushes users towards only buying games through Valve.

"If we have a digital service, then I don't want to start selling a rival in-store," the digital boss at one of the biggest UK games retailers told MCV.

"Publishers are creating a monster – we are telling suppliers to stop using Steam in their games."

More than 30 million people have Steam accounts, according to Valve.

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Wesley Yin-Poole avatar

Wesley Yin-Poole

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Wesley worked at Eurogamer from 2010 to 2023. He liked news, interviews, and more news. He also liked Street Fighter more than anyone could get him to shut up about it.

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