Valve Ends Physical Steam Gift Cards Due to Scammers

Valve, the owner of the popular digital storefront Steam, has announced that it will stop producing physical Steam gift cards by the end of 2026. The decision comes after scammers increasingly used the cards to defraud unsuspecting victims.

According to Valve, scammers have been using physical Steam gift cards to coerce money from victims since the cards were first introduced in 2012. Despite efforts to combat scams, including working with retailers and law enforcement, adding warnings to gift cards, and restricting redemption, scammers have continued to adapt.

Existing physical Steam gift cards can still be redeemed, but new ones will not be restocked at retail stores. Digital Steam gift cards will remain an option for Steam users, and existing physical cards can still be redeemed.

The decision to discontinue physical gift cards may be a disappointment to some, but it is a necessary step to protect Steam customers from scams. Valve has taken steps to ensure that digital gift cards are still available and can be easily purchased and gifted directly through Steam.

The end of physical Steam gift cards marks the beginning of a new era for Steam users, who will need to rely on digital gift cards for gifting and purchasing Steam games and content.