Any legal disputes with Steam are governed by Washington State law and must be filed in courts in King County, Washington, regardless of where you live.
This analysis describes what Steam's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology
The clause creates a fixed legal framework and venue requirement that determines which state's substantive law applies to disputes and which courts have authority to hear them, establishing predictable jurisdictional parameters for both parties.
Interpretive note: Enforceability of the venue clause against EU consumers is limited by EU private international law; practical application varies by jurisdiction and may depend on enforcement context.
The updated agreement no longer explicitly discloses that Steam Wallet funds held by Japanese users will expire six months after being added, or that expiration dates can be reviewed in the Steam Wallet. The removal of this disclosure eliminates the transparency mechanism previously available to Japanese subscribers regarding fund expiration timelines and monitoring options. Japanese law may still impose expiration requirements on stored funds regardless of contractual disclosure, but the agreement no longer notifies users of this expiration mechanism.
View change record →The venue restriction requires non-US users and out-of-state US consumers to litigate in Washington State, which may be a significant practical barrier to pursuing legal claims.
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"This Agreement is governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Washington, excluding its conflicts of law rules. You expressly agree that exclusive jurisdiction for any claim or dispute with Valve or relating in any way to your use of Steam resides in the courts located in King County, Washington, and you further agree and expressly consent to the exercise of personal jurisdiction in the courts of the State of Washington in connection with any such dispute.— Excerpt from Steam's Steam Subscriber Agreement
REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: Choice of law and venue clauses are generally enforceable in US consumer contracts subject to state-specific unconscionability analysis and FAA preemption considerations. For EU consumers, choice of law clauses cannot override mandatory consumer protection provisions of the consumer's home country under Rome I Regulation (EC 593/2008) and the Brussels I Recast Regulation, meaning EU users retain home-country consumer law protections regardless of this clause. GOVERNANCE EXPOSURE: Medium. The King County venue requirement is a potential barrier to justice for out-of-state and international users pursuing non-arbitral claims. EU consumer courts have repeatedly declined to enforce venue clauses that displace consumers from their home jurisdiction. JURISDICTION FLAGS: EU/EEA consumers: mandatory consumer law protections in their home jurisdiction apply regardless of this clause under EU private international law. UK consumers retain similar protections post-Brexit under retained EU law principles. US consumers in states with strong consumer protection laws may challenge the Washington venue on unconscionability grounds in some circumstances. CONTRACT AND VENDOR IMPLICATIONS: B2B contracts with Valve should be reviewed separately as the governing law and venue provisions may require negotiation for non-US entities. The Washington State choice of law is operationally straightforward for US institutional parties. COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Legal teams advising EU or UK clients should note that this clause does not displace mandatory local consumer law protections, and complaints about Valve's conduct may be filed with relevant local consumer protection authorities in addition to or instead of Washington State courts.
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The clause creates a fixed legal framework and venue requirement that determines which state's substantive law applies to disputes and which courts have authority to hear them, establishing predictable jurisdictional parameters for both parties.
The venue restriction requires non-US users and out-of-state US consumers to litigate in Washington State, which may be a significant practical barrier to pursuing legal claims.
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