Valve to End Physical Steam Gift Cards at Retail Stores by End of 2026

Valve has announced that it will stop restocking physical Steam Gift Cards at retail stores, marking the end of a long-running program that allowed customers to purchase Steam Wallet credit in physical form. The company says the move is part of a broader effort to combat gift card scams that continue to affect users worldwide.

Retailers will continue selling their remaining inventory of Steam Gift Cards while supplies last. However, Valve confirmed that no new physical cards will be shipped once existing stock runs out, with most remaining inventory expected to disappear from store shelves by the end of 2026.

Existing physical Steam Gift Cards will remain valid and redeemable on Steam, subject to local laws and regulations. Customers who already own physical cards do not need to take any action.

Valve says scammers kept adapting

According to Valve, gift card scams remain a significant problem across multiple industries, with criminals frequently targeting victims by requesting payment through gift cards from well-known brands, including Steam.

The company said it has spent years trying to reduce abuse through a combination of technical restrictions, retailer partnerships, and law enforcement cooperation.

These measures included working with retailers and law enforcement. Valve also added prominent scam warnings to physical gift cards. The company limited gift card redemption to the currency of the user’s Steam Wallet. Valve also limited card availability and removed cards from sale when abnormal activity was detected.

Valve said scammers continued to adjust their tactics as new protections were introduced. Because fraud remained a persistent issue despite these efforts, the company decided to discontinue the retail gift card program entirely.

Digital Steam Gift Cards remain available

While physical cards are being phased out, Valve stressed that gifting Steam Wallet funds will still be possible through digital alternatives.

Steam Digital Gift Cards will remain available, allowing users to send wallet credit directly through Steam. Valve also highlighted its guest checkout feature, which was introduced last year and lets friends and family purchase digital gift cards without relying on physical retail cards.

The company says it plans to continue improving the digital gifting experience as it moves away from physical cards.

For now, customers who prefer buying Steam Gift Cards in stores still have time to do so. Retail inventory will remain available until stock is depleted, but once retailers sell their remaining cards, physical Steam Gift Cards will no longer return to store shelves.

In other Steam-related news, Valve recently confirmed plans to launch Steam Machine and Steam Frame this summer. The company has also increased Steam Deck OLED pricing in some regions, while reports continue to suggest that the Steam Machine could arrive at a higher price point than the current Steam Deck OLED lineup.

Via VideoCardz