Valve has decided to discontinue physical Steam gift cards, with remaining stock expected to vanish from retail shelves by the end of 2026. The move comes as a response to persistent abuse by scammers who have exploited the cards to defraud consumers. Despite increasing restrictions, fraudulent activity has continued to impact Steam users and others, prompting the company to end the retail gift card program entirely. Digital gift cards and existing physical cards will still be redeemable, preserving gifting options without the physical form. This shift underscores growing challenges in balancing user convenience with security in digital storefronts.