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.

  • JohnEdwa@sopuli.xyz
    4·
    1 day ago

    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.mlOP
      3·
      1 day 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.