Valve phases out physical Steam gift cards due to scammers

Steam will no longer sell physical gift cards in stores after over a decade. According to a support page, Valve will not restock its gift cards once they run out, citing scammers who "continue to have an impact on Steam customers and other unsuspecting individuals." Valve's post links to a Federal Trade Commission article outlining how gift card scammers attempt to convince victims to buy a gift card at a store and give them the code. The company says it has responded to these scams by working with law enforcement, adding a warning to gift cards, and limiting their availability in stores, but "scammer tactics continue to evolve." The decision to phase out physical gift cards comes as scammers increasingly target Steam users.

Valve encourages users to purchase gift cards directly from its website or authorized retailers, saying this method is "safer" than buying from a store. Valve did not provide a specific timeline for when physical gift cards will be completely phased out. The company has not announced plans to discontinue digital gift cards.

Why this matters: The discontinuation of physical Steam gift cards highlights the growing concern over scamming and cybersecurity in the gaming industry. As more transactions move online, companies like Valve must adapt to protect their customers. This move may push more users to purchase digital gift cards, potentially changing the way gamers buy and share Steam content.

Developers and businesses that rely on Steam's platform should take note of this shift and adjust their distribution strategies accordingly. The effectiveness of Valve's efforts to combat scammers remains to be seen, and it is unclear what impact this will have on the gaming community in the long run.