On Friday 5 April, the European Commission sent a statement of objections to Valve, the owner of the Steam video game distribution platform, as well as to five PC video game publishers (Bandai Namco, Capcom, Focus Home, Koch Media and ZeniMax), alleging that they have prevented consumers from buying video games in Member States other than the one in which they live.
These objections have been sent following the opening of formal antitrust proceedings in February 2017 (see EUROPE 11717/17).
Via Steam, the company Valve distributes PC video games from the five publishers in question and also provides activation keys for them. These activation keys allow consumers to play multiple games that have been purchased through channels other than Steam. Their activation key is confirmed on the platform in order to identify the consumer and enable them to play the game.
The Commission considers, on a preliminary basis, that Valve and the publishers have concluded bilateral agreements to prevent consumers from buying and using PC video games that have been acquired in a country other than their country of residence, something that amounts to geo-blocking. In the opinion of the institution, consumers were therefore unable to enjoy the benefits of the digital single market by comparing prices and thus acquiring games at the most attractive price.
If this practice were to be proven, it would constitute an infringement of the regulations of Union competition law. Now that the objections have been forwarded to the various entities, they can now reply to them. (Original version in French by Lucas Tripoteau)