Starting with the easy target?! Recently, Valve updated the Steam Wallet terms for Japanese users: any topped-up balance will expire if unused within six months from the date of top-up. This provision was included in the terms updated on April 20, 2026, and has recently sparked discussion after being noticed by social media users.
Steam Wallet allows users to top up their accounts first and then use the balance to purchase games and other content on the platform. Steam offers top-up amounts starting from 500 yen, and users can also purchase digital Steam Gift Cards to give to friends and family. The new expiration rule applies to "customers located in Japan" as stated in the terms.
The terms state that this provision is based on Japanese law, but do not specify which law. Journalists speculate it may be related to Japan's Funds Settlement Act and exceptions for short-term valid prepaid payment instruments; Valve has not clarified the legal basis or motivation for this revision.
It remains unclear whether balances topped up before the revision are subject to the new rules; if they are, it is yet to be confirmed whether the six-month period starts from the original top-up date or the date of the terms revision. The terms state that users can check their balance and fund expiration dates on the Steam Wallet page of their account, but media outlets reported being unable to find the expiration display at the time. The media outlet has contacted Steam Customer Support for further details.