Valve is yanking physical Steam gift cards from retail shelves because scammers keep winning the arms race. The company updated its support page to confirm it won't restock once current inventory dries up, projecting empty shelves by the end of 2026. Digital cards stay, but the physical ones that let you hand over a code without typing card numbers are done.

Valve introduced physical cards back in 2012 and tried layering on restrictions for years, yet the fraudsters adapted every time. The official line calls it a difficult decision after scammers kept impacting customers and unsuspecting victims worldwide. Existing cards still redeem fine, subject to local laws.

Retailers like GameStop will keep selling whatever they have until it's gone, but don't expect fresh boxes. This quietly kills a simple gifting option that avoided digital payment friction for plenty of players.