Remember this any time someone tells you that it’s not possible to make a difference in this world. The Cavalry did this.
The Updated Steam Subscriber Agreement
We’d like to share some information about recent updates to the Steam Subscriber Agreement (SSA), which mainly relate to how any disputes between Valve and Steam users are resolved.
We’ve eliminated the requirement that disputes be resolved by individual arbitration. As always, we encourage you to contact Steam Support when you have any issues, as that will nearly always be the best way to reach a solution. But if that doesn’t work, the updated SSA now provides that any disputes are to go forward in court instead of arbitration. We’ve also removed the class action waiver, as well as the cost and fee-shifting provisions, that were in prior versions of the SSA.
The whole approach was abusive and poorly conceived from the start.
Tech companies: You MUST arbitrate!
Users: Okay, let’s arbitrate.
Tech companies: NOOO! We will take you to court to avoid arbitration!
Court: You all said you wanted arbitration and you stuck them with it. So arbitrate, bitches!
Tech companies: (change terms of agreement)