Valve phases out physical Steam gift cards citing fraud concerns
Valve discontinues physical Steam gift cards to reduce fraud, keeping only digital alternatives.
Event / Technology
Steam Physical Gift Cards Discontinued
Valve announced the discontinuation of physical Steam gift cards at retail stores due to scam exploitation. Current inventory expected to deplete by end of 2026. Digital gift cards will continue to be supported.
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2026-08-16 to 2026-11-13 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 11 Jun, 01:36 UTC
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What happened
Valve discontinues physical Steam gift card production at retail stores
Valve announced it will no longer manufacture or restock physical Steam gift cards at retail stores. The company expects current retail inventory to be completely sold out by the end of 2026. Existing physical gift cards will continue to function and can be redeemed on Steam.
Valve cites gift card scams as reason for phasing out physical cards
Valve stated that scammers targeting Steam customers and unsuspecting individuals through gift card fraud schemes have adapted to multiple countermeasures, forcing the company to discontinue physical gift cards entirely. Despite efforts including working with law enforcement, adding warnings to packaging, limiting availability, and restricting redemption methods, scammers continued evolving their tactics.
Valve introduced physical Steam gift cards in 2012 with digital option added in 2017
Steam launched physical gift cards in 2012 to allow customers to add funds to their accounts. In 2017, Valve introduced digital gift cards to provide purchasing options for players in countries with low credit card ownership rates. Digital gift cards will continue to be supported going forward.
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