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A rare steam gift cards are still in the wild
(programming.dev)
Thank you rural gas stations
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this post was submitted on 30 Jul 2026
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Steam Hardware
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In short, Valve is discontinuing physical Steam Gift Cards. They already stopped producing them and they expect the stock will run out at the end of 2026. I assume they talk about their own stock, so your shop may still have some even next year. One of the best things of Steam comes to an end... Edit: Reduced noise.
More information directly from Valve: https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/78E3-7431-1E88-AD59#retailers
Can I purchase Steam Gift Cards at retailers?
They’ve since improved their gifting stuff you can give people things without needing to know their account name or anything so it’s kind of whatever. So much scammed money goes through gift cards so I get it
It's not whatever. Buying cards in a shop without having a bank account or credit card usage is a big deal. This was and currently is my main way of buying games in Steam. It is whatever to you maybe, but not to me.
My lemming on the internet, prepaid debit cards have been a thing for multiple decades and are perfect for anonymous purchases online at any storefront. You don't need explicitly Valve-endorsed cards.
Pre-paid debit cards aren't a solution for many people. Not only they depend on your bank or a third party service that may even charge for them, but they're more traceable than buying stuff on a store. Some people don't even have a bank account, like kids, who now will need to ask their parents to pay for every game individually (or have unrestricted access to their parents card)
The retail pre-paid debit cards can be bought with cash at various convenience stores, at least in the US. Growing up I used to use them before I had a bank account.
There is no name attached. Just the payment method at initial purchase (which can be done with cash).
I'm not from the US.
Those aren't available everywhere and require you to show your ID in a lot of places. They're not a direct replacement of steam gift cards, even though, as you said, they may work in some places.
You can still buy your kids a digital steam gift card like you’ve always been able to for years. https://steamcommunity.com/games/593110/announcements/detail/669497052089025105
I don't think this is your decision what I need. I don't need your endorsement to use what I want.
Huh. I was wondering what this was about. Guess I'm out of the loop.