Gabe Newell testified that Steam operates in a market of enormous consumer choice, pointing to Xbox, Epic Games Store, and direct developer sales as viable alternatives for PC gamers.

Bloomberg obtained the deposition transcript from the ongoing Wolfire Games antitrust suit, where Newell stated Valve has no policy dictating prices on other platforms and that many partners remain satisfied with the service.

The suit alleges supracompetitive fees and anti-competitive practices, yet Steam's user base has grown 60 percent in five years amid these claims, with roughly 42 million concurrent players across its titles.

Valve faces parallel actions including a UK collective claim worth up to £656 million and various regulatory notices, all while maintaining its position through repeated innovation rather than coercion.