A Steam blog post has outlined new plans regarding account balances, and Valve is combating scammers by killing physical gift cards.
Many last-minute go-to ideas for gamer gifting often lead buyers to a local pharmacy, specifically the stand that carries all of the branded cards that add funds to digital accounts. These are gift cards, and they are essentially equivalent to currency once activated at a register. But due to a new wave of scams involving physical gift cards, Steam has decided to call it quits on distribution altogether and is stopping this scam at the root. First reported by PC Guide, Steam updated its Wallet Support page late last night, and Valve announced it will end the distribution of its physical retailer gift cards.
In a desperate attempt to stop scammers, Valve has announced that it “will not be restocking” physical Steam gift cards once retailers run out of stock in 2026. Under the question “Can I purchase Steam Gift Cards at retailers?” on the official support page, Valve responds with a resounding ‘for now.’ Valve says, “We introduced Steam Gift Cards to retail stores back in 2012, and added the digital program in 2017. Unfortunately, scammers use gift cards from major brands like Steam to take advantage of people all over the world.”
Valve has mentioned it has tried virtually everything to combat these scams: working with local law enforcement, working with retailers themselves and even changing the cards to include an anti-scam warning. At every turn, scammers adapt to changes and continue to sidestep guardrails that attempt to curb scamming behaviour. So, the company has made the decision to kill physical gift cards outright. Following the stock allotment to retailers in 2026, Steam gift cards will no longer be restocked on shelves. Valve has, however, committed to continuing to sell digital gift cards.
Some fans have hit forums like Reddit to celebrate/bash the decision. One fan writes, “This sucks. I enjoyed getting family to gift me Steam gift cards,” and many have agreed with this sentiment. Others have applauded the decision, mainly because it protects elderly shoppers who can be taken advantage of over the phone. As of this post, the gift cards are still available, so fans who want to snag one before they’re gone for good can likely find an ample supply at local retailers. Valve has also confirmed that existing cards (even after 2026, as long as they aren’t expired) will still be honoured.
