Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Want to add more newsletters? Every Friday Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them. Every Thursday GTA 6 O'clock Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts. Every Friday Knowledge From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon. Every Thursday The Setup Every Wednesday Switch 2 Spotlight Every Saturday The Watchlist Once a month SFX Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month! The state of New York is suing the Valve Corporation over the appearance of loot boxes in many of its most popular franchises, including Counter-Strike and Dota 2, because the state alleges the mechanic is indistinguishable from illegal gambling. In a publicly available summons filed on February 25, New York Attorney General Letitia James, on behalf of the People of the State of New York, argues that Valve has only ensured its free-to-play franchises remain lucrative "by pioneering an alternative model for monetizing its games: gambling." "The market for virtual items for the Counter-Strike franchise alone has been estimated to be in the billions of dollars, an unparalleled sum in the video game industry," says the summons. And, sounding not dissimilar to Valve critics who can't stand the publisher's reliance on microtransactions, the summons says, "This loot box model that Valve has developed – charging an individual for a chance to win something of value based on luck alone – is quintessential gambling." Valves faces $900 million lawsuit, accused of abusing its dominance in PC gaming, as UK court says the case can proceed Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney supports the $900 million lawsuit against Valve, says Steam's rules force a "30% junk fee" Fortnite now allows in-game purchases in user-generated Creative maps, including for randomized items In fact, the summons contains an entire section dedicated to how "Valve's Loot Boxes Pose the Same Dangers as Casino Gambling, Especially for Children." Seeing as how the publisher "has made tens of millions of dollars selling keys to thousands of New York residents, who have used them to open Valve loot boxes in the hopes of winning valuable virtual items" – that makes this a hometown problem. So New York demands Valve make amends in several ways, including making "full restitution to consumers and pay damages caused, directly or indirectly, by the illegal acts complained of herein." That's in addition to a proposed "fine of three times the amount of its gain from the illegal practices alleged." We'll see which house wins. Counter-Strike co-creator has a sobering explanation for the iconic shooter's continued Steam dominance 25 years in: "People play it just to collect skins and s**t."