Valve has reportedly warned Ubisoft that Rainbow Six Siege could be removed from Steam after discovering a lower‑priced bundle offered exclusively on Uplay.
Why the threat emerged
Emails uncovered in an ongoing antitrust class‑action lawsuit against Valve reveal that the platform’s operators learned Ubisoft was selling a “cheaper bundle” solely through its own Uplay storefront. Ubisoft’s move appears aimed at funneling players to its proprietary service, a development that would diminish Steam’s revenue share and user traffic.
Ubisoft, meanwhile, is gearing up for the launch of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, making the potential loss of a flagship title on Steam a significant concern for the publisher.
Valve’s precedent and market leverage
Steam’s willingness to issue removal warnings is not new. In 2019, the platform threatened to pull Middle‑earth: Shadow of War pre‑orders after the game’s price on Steam exceeded that on competing digital stores, prompting a rapid price correction.
Similar pressure has been reported by independent developers and larger studios alike, including Warner Bros. Games, which recently faced comparable scrutiny.
These incidents underscore the dominance Valve wields in the PC gaming ecosystem, a power that has spurred the company to expand into hardware with the Steam Machine, signaling an ambition to challenge console manufacturers as well.
Should Valve follow through, Ubisoft would lose a primary distribution channel for Rainbow Six Siege, intensifying the ongoing clash between platform monopolies and developer‑driven storefront strategies.
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