Steam
Parent Company: Valve Corporation
Activity
Digital video game distribution platform
Reason for Boycott
Valve Corporation is a fully privately held company with no public stock and has never taken outside institutional funding or venture capital. Consequently, global investment funds like BlackRock or Vanguard hold no shares or influence over the company. Steam resists censorship and pro-Zionist lobbying; despite heavy political pressure and an official letter from US Congressman Ritchie Torres demanding the removal of "Fursan al-Aqsa"—a video game portraying the Palestinian resistance—Valve refused a global ban. Although Valve Corporation (Steam) has an independent capital structure, it operates essentially as a "Dirty Shelf" (Kirli Raf). The marketplace hosts and provides logistical reach for numerous companies on the "Strict Boycott" list—including US and Israeli studios that support occupation policies—earning a standard 30% commission on these sales. While its own capital is clean, it acts as a storefront for exploiters. Additionally, it is a central driver of digital consumption culture and gaming addiction among youth, a condition recognized by the WHO. Due to these ethical contradictions, it is left to consumer discretion.
Sources and Evidence
Status History
- August 25, 2026: Safe to Buy → Discretionary
