Valve has reportedly pulled all Digital Homicide games from Steam.
The moves comes after Digital Homicide was granted a subpoena that forced Valve to reveal the identities of 100 users who posted harsh reviews. Studio co-founder James Romine on Friday sued those anonymous people as part of an $18 million personal injury claim. Later that day, the entire Digital Homicide catalog—21 games and 15 downloadable items—disappeared from Steam and Steam Greenlight.
In response, a Valve spokesman told Polygon that the company “has stopped doing business with Digital Homicide for being hostile to Steam.”
Digital Homicide did not immediately respond to PCMag’s request for comment. But the Arizona-based developer said on its website that it sued because of Valve’s disregard for curbing abusive game reviews—some of which included death threats. Valve, it says, shows a “reckless disregard for the well being of their community and profits.”
“We submitted numerous reports and sent multiple emails in regards to individuals making personal attacks, harassment, and more on not only us but on other Steam customers who were actually interested in our products,” Romine wrote.
“By removing us they [Steam] have taken the stance that users have the right to harass me, tell me I should kill myself, and insult my family,” he continued. “If it wasn’t for [two] years of experience of dealing with Steam on a regular basis, this disgusting stance would would seem shocking to me.”
Romine said he’s been collecting documentation—dates, screenshots, emails, etc.—of events over the last two years, and intends to use that evidence against Valve.
Digital Homicide also has a beef with YouTuber Jim Sterling. In March, Romine sued the game critic for $10.76 million, accusing him of “assault, libel, and slander.”
Sterling, whose real name is James Stanton, reportedly “falsely accused [Digital Homicide] and caused damage” to the small studio, which is asking for $2.26 million in direct product damage; $4.3 million in emotional, reputational, and financial distress; and $5 million in punitive damage requests.
