This is entirely what one of the major lawsuits is about. The official word age is that this is a clause for using steam keys. But internal emails shows there's

This is entirely what one of the major lawsuits is about. The official word age is that this is a clause for using steam keys. But internal emails shows there's definitely preferences even for non steam keygames to do this https://galaxy.ai/youtube-summarizer/the-judges-ruling-a-major-setback-for-valve-and-its-steam-monopoly-ItmH6v3c9zs https://galaxy.ai/youtube-summarizer/the-judges-ruling-a-maj... >Initially, it was believed that this policy applied only to Steam keys, but the emails indicate a broader application, raising serious concerns about Valve's business practices.