Valve is in the news for a NY lawsuit over loot boxes and real-money item resale on Steam, amid hardware shortages and market pressure. Valve Corp, founded by Gabe Newell and Mike Harrington, is a Seattle-area game dev/publisher behind Steam and popular titles.
New York's lawsuit alleges Valve's loot boxes and virtual item sales in games like Counter-Strike and Dota 2 constitute illegal gambling, especially due to the resale market and third-party cash-out services. The case questions whether digital items of value and resale practices breach state laws, with Valve facing potential fines and restitution.