Valve announced it will discontinue sales of physical Steam gift cards in 2026, ceasing restocks when current retail supplies are exhausted [1, 2]. The company said physical cards have been widely exploited in scams where victims were instructed to buy cards and share the codes, often targeting vulnerable groups [1, 2].
Since introducing physical Steam gift cards in 2012, Valve has implemented several anti-fraud measures. These include collaborating with retailers and law enforcement, altering card designs, placing warnings on packaging, and removing suspicious cards from circulation [1, 2]. Despite these efforts, scammers adapted their tactics to circumvent controls, prompting Valve to end the physical card program [1, 2].
Valve plans to continue offering Steam Digital Gift Cards, enhancing features such as guest checkout to improve security and user experience [1, 2]. Going forward, all new Steam gift cards will be digital-only with updated security features aimed at better preventing scams [2]. Consumers can still redeem existing physical cards until their stored value is fully used [2].
Physical Steam gift cards have been sold in stores for 14 years, since 2012 [1]. The phase-out will conclude by the end of 2026, after which no physical gift cards will be available in retail outlets [1, 2].
