Editing Valve Corporation (section)

=== Steam ===
{{Main|Steam (service)}}
Valve announced Steam, its [[digital distribution]] service, at the 2002 [[Game Developers Conference]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/history-of-valve/ |title=Full Steam ahead: The History of Valve |work=gamesradar |access-date=February 26, 2018 |language=en |archive-date=October 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161016131157/http://www.gamesradar.com/history-of-valve/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gdc-2002-valve-unveils-steam/1100-2857298/ |title=GDC 2002: Valve unveils Steam |publisher=[[GameSpot]] |date=March 22, 2002 |access-date=May 1, 2022 |archive-date=May 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220502011643/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gdc-2002-valve-unveils-steam/1100-2857298/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It was launched in September 2003 and was first used to deliver [[Patch (computing)|patches]] and other updates to Valve's online games.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/steam-versions/ |title=The 13-year evolution of Steam |work=pcgamer |access-date=February 26, 2018 |archive-date=August 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813092632/http://www.pcgamer.com/steam-versions/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Burnes |first1=Andrew |title=Steam Client Delayed |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/09/10/steam-client-delayed |website=IGN |access-date=March 1, 2018 |date=September 10, 2003 |archive-date=March 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180302044821/http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/09/10/steam-client-delayed |url-status=live }}</ref>

On August 1, 2012, Valve announced revisions to the Steam Subscriber Agreement (SSA) to prohibit [[class action]] [[lawsuit]]s by users against the service provider.<ref name="augustrockpapershotgun"/><ref name="valveaugustssa"/> By July 2014, there were over 3,400 games available on Steam, with over 150 million registered accounts by January 2018.<ref name=steamgrowth_2014>{{cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2014-01-15-steam-has-75-million-active-users-valve-announces-at-dev-days.html |title=Steam has 75 million active users, Valve announces at Dev Days |date=January 15, 2014 |website=Engadget|access-date=May 1, 2022|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140719043324/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/01/15/steam-has-75-million-active-users-valve-announces-at-dev-days/ |archive-date=July 19, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.geekwire.com/2017/valve-reveals-steams-monthly-active-user-count-game-sales-region/ |title=Valve reveals Steam's monthly active user count and game sales by region |first=Taylor |last=Supor |date=August 3, 2017 |access-date=November 27, 2017 |work=[[GeekWire]] |archive-date=February 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180216044005/https://www.geekwire.com/2017/valve-reveals-steams-monthly-active-user-count-game-sales-region/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Alongside these changes to the SSA, the company also declared publicly the incorporation of Valve [[Société à responsabilité limitée|S.a.r.l.]], a subsidiary based in [[Luxembourg]].<ref name="augustrockpapershotgun">{{cite news |url=http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/08/01/steams-sub-agreement-prohibits-class-action-lawsuits/ |title=Steam's Sub Agreement Prohibits Class-Action Lawsuits |website=[[Rock Paper Shotgun]] |date=August 1, 2012 |access-date=August 3, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120803004936/http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/08/01/steams-sub-agreement-prohibits-class-action-lawsuits/ |archive-date=August 3, 2012}}</ref><ref name="valveaugustssa">{{cite web |url=http://store.steampowered.com/news/8523/ |title=Updated Steam Subscriber Agreement |publisher=Valve |date=August 1, 2012 |access-date=August 3, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120803134105/http://store.steampowered.com/news/8523 |archive-date=August 3, 2012}}</ref> Valve set up a physical office in [[Kirchberg, Luxembourg]]. According to Valve's project manager Mike Dunkle, the location was chosen for eCommerce capabilities and infrastructure, talent acquisition, tax advantages and central geographic location&nbsp;– most major partners are accessible, 50% within driving distance.<ref>[http://www.chronicle.lu/categoriesbusinessitcgaming/item/724-valve-software-latest-gaming-company-to-set-up-in-luxembourg Valve Software Latest Gaming Company to Set Up in Luxembourg] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502003013/http://www.chronicle.lu/categoriesbusinessitcgaming/item/724-valve-software-latest-gaming-company-to-set-up-in-luxembourg |date=May 2, 2014 }}. Chronicle.lu (September 4, 2012). Retrieved on May 23, 2014.</ref>

Valve S.a.r.l. was used to sell games to UK users to avoid paying the full 20% [[value-added tax]] (VAT).<ref>Karmali, Luke. (March 25, 2014) [https://ign.com/articles/2014/03/25/steam-amazon-and-itunes-prices-could-rise-in-uk Steam, Amazon and iTunes Prices Could Rise in UK] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502003318/http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/03/25/steam-amazon-and-itunes-prices-could-rise-in-uk |date=May 2, 2014 }}. IGN. Retrieved on May 23, 2014.</ref> The [[Tax avoidance|tax loophole]] was expected to close on January 1, 2015.<ref>{{cite web |title=UK closing tax loophole on Steam game downloads |url=https://www.mcvuk.com/business-news/pc/uk-closing-tax-loophole-on-steam-game-downloads/ |website=MCV |access-date=May 1, 2022 |date=March 25, 2014 |archive-date=May 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220502011643/https://www.mcvuk.com/business-news/pc/uk-closing-tax-loophole-on-steam-game-downloads/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In December 2015, the French consumer group [[UFC Que Choisir]] initiated a lawsuit against Valve for several of their Steam policies that conflict or run afoul of French law. One of the reasons was for using the tax loophole.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/french-consumer-group-sues-valve-over-steam-policies|title=French consumer group sues Valve over Steam policies |first=Christian |last=Nutt |date=December 17, 2015 |access-date=May 1, 2022 |work=Game Developer |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151218051846/http://gamasutra.com/view/news/262203/French_consumer_group_sues_Valve_over_Steam_policies.php |archive-date=December 18, 2015}}</ref> Valve S.a.r.l. ceased business on January 1, 2017, with the main company taking over EU sales again.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://store.steampowered.com/subscriber_agreement/ |title=Steam Subscriber Agreement |quote=This Agreement was last updated on January 1st, 2017 ("Revision Date"). If you were a Subscriber before the Revision Date, it replaces your existing agreement with Valve or Valve SARL on the day that you explicitly accept it. |publisher=Valve |access-date=January 1, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170101054627/http://store.steampowered.com/subscriber_agreement/ |archive-date=January 1, 2017}}</ref> In August 2017, Valve announced that Steam had reached over 67 million monthly and 33 million [[daily active users]] on the platform.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.geekwire.com/2017/valve-reveals-steams-monthly-active-user-count-game-sales-region/ |title=Valve reveals Steam's monthly active user count and game sales by region |date=August 3, 2017 |work=GeekWire |access-date=August 4, 2017 |archive-date=February 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180216044005/https://www.geekwire.com/2017/valve-reveals-steams-monthly-active-user-count-game-sales-region/ |url-status=live }}</ref>