Valve has confirmed it will stop restocking Steam physical gift cards at retail stores. Existing stock is expected to sell through by the end of 2026, after which the cards will no longer be available in stores.
The company updated its Steam Support FAQ to explain the decision. It has been a long time coming.
Why Valve Is Pulling the Cards
Valve introduced Steam Gift Cards to retail in 2012. The digital gift card program came five years later, in 2017.
As we have continued to put more and more restrictions in place, scammers have adapted. They continue to have an impact on Steam customers and other unsuspecting individuals. So we’ve made the difficult decision to end the Steam Gift Card program at retail stores.
Steam
Over that period, the cards became a go-to tool for scammers. Criminals coerce victims into purchasing gift cards under the pretense of paying taxes, bail, debts, or delivery fees for sweepstakes winnings. The codes are hard to trace and easy to cash out, which makes them useful for fraud well beyond gaming.
What Valve Already Tried
Valve did not pull the cards without first attempting fixes. The company previously worked with retailers and law enforcement, added prominent scam warning labels to cards, limited redemption to the currency of a Steam wallet, reduced availability at certain retailers, and removed cards from sale when unusual activity was spotted.
None of it stuck. Scammers adjusted every time.
Valve is likely to be among the first major platform holders to phase out physical gift cards for this reason, but probably not the last. Other brands face the same problem. Gift card codes are untraceable by design, which is exactly why fraudsters prefer them.
What Happens to Cards You Already Have
Valve confirmed it will still honor any existing physical gift cards, and will continue to offer gift cards in digital form. There is no expiry date on cards currently in circulation.
Digital gift cards remain available, and Valve has also pointed to guest checkout, added last year, as another option for friends and family who want to send Steam credit without needing an account. Valve says it is working to make the digital gifting experience better going forward.
