Steam’s Sudden Crackdown on Adult Games Sparks Confusion and Game Removals
Steam is shaking things up with a confusing new crackdown on adult games. Valve’s platform, known for its wide range of adult content, is now tightening the rules around sexual games, especially those involving controversial themes like incest. The change stems from new guidelines linked to payment processors, but the lack of clarity is raising eyebrows among developers and players alike.
- Steam updates onboarding rules for developers
- New ban targets content violating payment processors’ standards
- About 22 adult games removed recently, many featuring incest themes
- Valve’s silence leaves the community guessing
- Payment processors’ strict policies affect adult content broadly
What’s changing on Steam?
Steam has adjusted its developer onboarding process to include a new type of prohibited content: anything that violates “the rules and standards set forth by Steam’s payment processors and related card networks and banks, or internet network providers.” This means games that payment processors find objectionable are no longer welcome on the platform.
The problem? Valve hasn’t spelled out exactly what these rules mean, leaving developers in the dark. This vague wording essentially shifts the decision-making power from Valve to payment processors like Visa, MasterCard, and PayPal, who historically have been very cautious about sexual content.
Recent game removals raise questions
Alongside this update, about 22 adult games have vanished from Steam. While some may have failed quality checks, most share a common theme: incest. This suggests Valve is cracking down on content that payment processors might flag as inappropriate or even illegal.
Why the fuss with payment processors?
Payment processors have long been uncomfortable with sexual content, often labeling it as obscene regardless of context or legality. Their policies aim to prevent illegal material, like non-consensual acts, but in practice, they tend to restrict adult content broadly. This creates a tricky situation for platforms like Steam that want to host adult games but still rely on smooth payment processing.
Interestingly, big-budget games featuring sexual content don’t face the same scrutiny, highlighting a double standard in enforcement. Smaller adult games, especially those with controversial themes, bear the brunt of these restrictions.
What’s next?
Valve hasn’t commented yet on these changes, so it’s unclear how they will affect future releases. Without clearer guidelines, developers and players can only guess how strictly these new rules will be enforced and what content might be at risk.
For more details on this evolving situation, check out the breakdown by SteamDB:
