Valve is phasing out physical Steam gift cards due to scammers

Valve announced this week that it is phasing out physical Steam gift cards, ending a practice that has been in place for over a decade. The company stated on a support page that it will cease restocking physical gift cards once current inventory is depleted. Valve cited ongoing issues with scammers who have been targeting Steam customers and other individuals. The company did not provide a specific date for when the cards would be completely unavailable, only indicating that the process is underway. This decision comes as a measure to combat fraudulent activities that have impacted users. Valve continues to offer digital Steam gift cards, which are delivered electronically and are not susceptible to the same types of scams that have plagued the physical versions. The company has not announced any plans to discontinue digital gift card sales. The move is expected to simplify the gifting process for many users while also enhancing security measures for the Steam platform. Further details regarding the transition are expected to be communicated through official Steam channels.