this post was submitted on 10 Jun 2026
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Steam is ending the physical Steam Gift Cards at retailers! (lemmy.ml)
submitted 4 days ago by thingsiplay@lemmy.ml to c/steamdeck@sopuli.xyz
40 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/48547220

https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/78E3-7431-1E88-AD59#retailers

Can I purchase Steam Gift Cards at retailers?

Yes, but only for a limited time.

We introduced Steam Gift Cards to retail stores back in 2012, and added the digital program in 2017. Unfortunately, scammers use gift cards from major brands like Steam to take advantage of all people all over the world.

We’ve responded to gift card scams over the years by taking a number of actions to protect customers, including:

  • Working with retailers
  • Working with law enforcement
  • Making changes to the cards, including adding a prominent scam warning
  • Limiting redemption to be in the currency of your Steam wallet
  • Limiting availability of cards
  • Removing cards from sale when we observed abnormal activity

As we have continued to put more and more restrictions in place, scammers have adapted. They continue to have an impact on Steam customers and other unsuspecting individuals. So we've made the difficult decision to end the Steam Gift Card program at retail stores.

As Steam Gift Cards run out of stock at retail locations, we will not be restocking them. We expect all retailers to be out of stock by the end of 2026. Though we will no longer be selling physical gift cards, you will still have the ability to use your existing gift cards on Steam whenever you choose, subject to local laws.

We also continue to offer Steam Digital Gift Cards, and are working to make this an even better experience. Guest checkout, which we added last year, is another way for family members and friends to gift Steam users with a digital card anytime.

You can learn more about gift card scams here.

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[–] Jestzer@lemmy.world 36 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (3 children)

It makes sense, scammers looooove gift cards. And any time you see someone with a $500 or $1K+ USD gift card with a suspiciously vague and unenthusiastic story paired with it, you almost certainly know they’re being scammed.

[–] thingsiplay@lemmy.ml 21 points 4 days ago

Back when the original Steam Deck came out, I was purchasing Gift Cards for 500 Euros in my local shops. They all had a limit to how much I could purchase in one shop, so I had to wander around to get more in smaller chunks. To my surprise they told me because of scams, and I looked at them with a side eye not believing and not understanding.

[–] DoucheBagMcSwag@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 3 days ago

You know what they don't like? ..

.. When you REDEEM THE FUCKING CARD

[–] Rothe@piefed.social 8 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Yeah, besides crypto gift cards are basically the currency of scammers.

[–] pivot_root@lemmy.world 5 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (4 children)

I never understood the reason for gift cards.

"Let me give this store a fixed amount of my money so that my niece can either use a portion of it and while the company keeps the remaining balance, or spend some of her own money on top so it doesn't go to waste."

Unless the recipient needs to go shopping at the store for basic life necessities anyway, the only winner here is the company.

[–] eatham@aussie.zone 1 points 15 hours ago

For most gift cards yes, for online only ones like steam it's a bit different as it's the only way to pay without using a card.

[–] thingsiplay@lemmy.ml 7 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Buying Steam games and hardware without involving credit cards or bank accounts is only possible by buying gift cards with cash in a local shop. What do you mean the only winner is the company? This is a real value for me, so am I not a winner in that sense too?

[–] pivot_root@lemmy.world 0 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Call me a luddite, but if I don't want to give my purchase history to a bank, I drive to the store and pay with cash. I can see how that might not be an option for online-only retailers, however.

[–] thingsiplay@lemmy.ml 2 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

I don't understand your point.

Edit: Just to be clear, I'm not being rude here. And I actually understand what you are saying, but I'm not sure how to understand it in context as a reply to my statement.

[–] lightnsfw@reddthat.com 6 points 3 days ago

Gift cards allowed me to give my nieces/nephews money to spend on Steam so they wouldn't need a credit card.

[–] wirelesswire@lemmy.zip 3 points 3 days ago

Ah, so you do understand the reason for gift cards.

[–] dan1101@lemmy.world 17 points 4 days ago (2 children)

Well that sucks. If anyone asks me what I want for Christmas Steam card is usually what I say.

[–] thingsiplay@lemmy.ml 6 points 4 days ago (2 children)

Digital Steam Cards are still be able to gifted to another account. But that requires the person to have a Steam account and be friends with you too, so no more Steam cards from your mom I guess (or mine).

[–] JustAnotherKay@lemmy.world 12 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Guest checkout, which we added last year, is another way for family members and friends to Gift Steam users with a digital card anytime.

[–] bctripster@lemmy.ca 4 points 4 days ago

I'm glad they are killing physical cards as you get zero support on them anyway. Received one a couple years back, my wife purchased it at a 7/11 on Dec 24, gave it to me Dec 25, I go to enter it on Dec 26 and last 4 digits under the wax scratch were undecipherable, submit a ticket to Steam and was told the code was already used and to contact retailer.

Obviously the retailer has a "no refund" policy and provides no support. Valve of course should easily be able to track which account received the funds, but nope, not even willing to track obvious fraud while I held the physical card in my possession with receipt from retailer showing original purchase and activation.

Left a bad taste and I lost a bit of respect for Steam, barely purchased anything since and we don't buy Steam cards for the kids anymore either.

[–] gedfromgont@piefed.ca 5 points 4 days ago (1 children)

You don't, my wife bought one for me and she does not use Steam. However I don't think she got a code but instead gave my email address and I got sent the code to use. No idea if there are other options for this though.

[–] thingsiplay@lemmy.ml 1 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

email makes sense, if she does not have Steam. I don't think it would make sense to get her a code and then gift you the code, that would defeat the whole process. Thanks for confirmation.

[–] Truscape@lemmy.blahaj.zone 0 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Prepaid debit cards are a decent replacement. Plus those are useful for other platforms like GOG.

[–] Bluegrass_Addict@lemmy.ca 5 points 4 days ago

fees. so many fees. just give cash and put it into a thing called a bank.

[–] GiveOver@feddit.uk 11 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I always chat to scammers when they message me. A lot of them ask for Steam cards and I take immense delight in sending them the "I choo choo choose you" card from The Simpsons. Sad that this is coming to an end.

[–] thingsiplay@lemmy.ml 1 points 3 days ago

Lol, love that.

[–] Midnitte@beehaw.org 8 points 4 days ago (2 children)

Kind of sad - my fiancé really preferred purchasing them to avoid using her card (and sort of give herself an allowance).

[–] pillowtags@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 4 days ago (2 children)

She can still buy the digital ones!

[–] Midnitte@beehaw.org 2 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Ah... shes a bit neurotic using her card online. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[–] thingsiplay@lemmy.ml 3 points 4 days ago (1 children)

And how do you buy digital ones?

[–] pillowtags@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 4 days ago (1 children)
[–] thingsiplay@lemmy.ml 6 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I didn't ask where to buy. My question was implying that you need to use a card or bank account to buy digital gift cards. It's not a replacement for local physical Gift Cards.

[–] Truscape@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Then in that case something like a prepaid debit card (which are available in the same stores) would work just fine.

[–] thingsiplay@lemmy.ml 6 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

I know and that's the point i'm making; it won't work without a credit or debit card. The cool think about ~~digital~~ (Edit: I meant physical) gift cards was, one could go into a shop and buy anonymously without any card requirement. That option is no longer possible and therefore doesn't work fine in my opinion. It's a big deal to me.

[–] Truscape@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Prepaid debit cards found in stores (used for gifts) have no requirement for information? You just hand over cash and use the card like normal without a data trail?

That is an anonymous purchasing method.

[–] ouRKaoS@lemmy.today 1 points 4 days ago

Which is fine, until the credit card companies start telling you what you can & can't buy.

[–] thingsiplay@lemmy.ml 2 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Since I don't have PayPal anymore for many years, the only way to purchase games on Steam was local Steam Gift Cards for me. In fact, that is one of the major reasons why I don't even by on any other shop at all and focus on Steam.

[–] JohnEdwa@sopuli.xyz 4 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

Interesting. Here in Finland you are spoiled for choices, and half of those support direct bank transfers from basically every Finnish bank too.

[–] thingsiplay@lemmy.ml 2 points 4 days ago

Germany here. Direct bank transfer is not a replacement for Steam Gift Cards I could buy in local stores. I would want to avoid bank transfer, credit cards or a third party service such as PayPal. My preferred way to buy games on Steam is going into a local shop, buy physical Steam Gift Card with cash from my hand and then rub the number, enter it in Steam to get money on my account. And there is nothing that can replace this workflow. Paysafe Cards were a thing in the past I used too, but I think they are no longer available as physical cards in Germany.

[–] sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

1] Makes sense, just in general.

2] Makes more sense, when these gift cards are a part of the case they're currently fighting in New York.

If the gift cards ... stop physically existing as potential 'money'... well then that somewhat weakens the idea that Valve is pemitting the proceeds of alleged gambling to be functionally redeemable as a valuable physical object / semi-money.

Another whole big angle of the New York AG's case is that Valve has just known the secondary market for Steam Items and Steam Giftcards exists, and has done nothing about it.

They've previously countered that they take secondary markets seriously and have put a considerable deal of effort into finding and shutting those down, and well now, if they're also just pulling the plug on physical cards, that further makes them look like they're not just belligerently and openly refusing to comply with the law.

[–] Hiro8811@lemmy.world 4 points 4 days ago (2 children)

How are people supposed to buy from their ship while keeping privacy?

[–] thingsiplay@lemmy.ml 4 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I'm okay giving my data and trail to purchase on Steam. That is not the issue. All I care is buying Steam Wallet without any need for credit cards or bank accounts, directly in a shop paying for physical Steam Gift Cards with cash from my hand.

[–] Hiro8811@lemmy.world 2 points 4 days ago (1 children)

If they are pulling off physical gift cards how are you gonna buy them with cash?

[–] thingsiplay@lemmy.ml 2 points 4 days ago

I was describing how it works right now. After they get rid off physical Gift Cards, there will be no alternative to this.

[–] squaresinger@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

Just buy keys at resellers :)

No, in honesty, use single-use virtual credit cards.