Steam tightens adult content rules to comply with credit card policies
▼ Summary
– Valve introduced vague new guidelines banning content that may violate rules set by credit card companies and internet providers, particularly targeting adult-only games.
– The exact timing of the policy change is unclear, but it was added recently without specific details on prohibited content.
– Valve’s decision may stem from financial institutions’ historical discomfort with adult content and recent controversies over extreme sexual violence in games on Steam.
– Developers fear financial institutions could become de facto arbiters of content acceptability, potentially impacting LGBTQIA+ and other controversial games.
– Critics warn this policy could lead to financial censorship, disproportionately affecting queer and transgressive content due to corporate risk aversion.
Valve has quietly updated Steam’s content policies with broad restrictions targeting adult-oriented games, citing compliance requirements from financial institutions and internet service providers. The new guidelines, which emerged without fanfare in recent months, prohibit developers from publishing material that might breach the standards set by payment processors, credit card networks, and ISPs, though the rules remain frustratingly ambiguous.
While the company vaguely advises creators to steer clear of “certain kinds of adult-only content,” it offers no concrete examples, leaving developers in the dark about what crosses the line. Financial institutions have historically been wary of adult entertainment, often enforcing inconsistent policies that create hurdles for businesses. Valve’s decision to adopt similarly nebulous language suggests it’s prioritizing appeasement over clarity.
This shift follows controversy around sexually explicit games appearing on Steam, including titles featuring extreme themes. Reports indicate Valve has recently removed multiple games with incest-related content, signaling a departure from its earlier stance of permitting nearly all content unless it was illegal or blatantly trolling. The move raises questions about whether financial pressure is driving these changes, particularly as banks and payment processors increasingly influence what platforms can host.
The lack of transparency has sparked alarm among adult game creators, who now face the prospect of financial institutions dictating what’s acceptable on Steam. There’s also growing concern that LGBTQIA+ content could be disproportionately affected, as corporations often err on the side of caution to avoid controversy. Critics argue that vague policies enable discriminatory enforcement, with queer and transgressive content frequently labeled as “explicit” even when it’s mild.
“You’re seeing financial censorship become the norm, and it’s going to hit LGBTQ+ developers hardest,” warned one commentator. “Banks like Visa and Mastercard are effectively acting as moral gatekeepers, they’ve already pushed platforms like Patreon and OnlyFans to crack down on adult content. Now Steam’s next, and marginalized creators will bear the brunt.”
Valve has yet to publicly clarify the policy or respond to requests for comment. For now, developers are left navigating an uncertain landscape where the whims of financial institutions could abruptly determine what survives on the platform.
(Source: EUROGAMER)
