Steam’s Updated Guidelines Allow Banks To Enforce Standards On Adult-Only Content

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Steam, the widely-used digital platform for PC games operated by Valve, might undergo a removal of mature content following a major update in its policies this week.

Valve has recently made a subtle change to its terms, stating that content which potentially breaches the guidelines established by Steam’s payment processors, card networks, banks, internet service providers, and network carriers – specifically, explicit adult content – is not allowed on Steam.

The action taken, granting banks and related entities increased authority over content published on Steam, appears to be a response aimed at satisfying payment processors associated with Valve. This strategy, less common in gaming, has previously been employed to target and regulate adult content platforms such as OnlyFans.

This update to Steam’s rules has led to numerous games being removed from their marketplace. Valve communicated this to GamingOnLinux by explaining that certain games were found to be in violation of the new payment processing standards, causing these games to no longer be available for purchase on the Steam Store. The reason behind this is that the loss of payment methods would prevent customers from buying other titles and content on Steam. Developers of the affected games are being informed directly and will receive app credits if they decide to list another game on Steam in the future.

This policy change is happening because digital marketplaces such as the Nintendo eShop and Steam have recently become stricter in dealing with an overflow of questionable content, often referred to as “junk” or low-quality copies. These games, which appear to violate the visual style and naming patterns of successful existing titles and contain adult themes, have been appearing in large quantities over the past few months. Some people suspect these games are being churned out by developers who use AI and language models to rapidly create content that mimics the originals they’re copying.

Although the update provides some information, it fails to clarify several crucial aspects, potentially leading to misinterpretation with serious consequences. For instance, it does not specify the types of adult-oriented content that will no longer be allowed on Steam. Furthermore, the updated policies emphasize that these payment processors are implementing new rules, but they fail to explain exactly what these revised standards entail.

Although many of these so-called “trashy” games often feature sexual content upfront, it’s important to note that numerous developers are creating mature-themed games as well. However, due to recent alterations, a significant number of developers could face potential penalties or even removal from one of the most prominent digital gaming marketplaces.

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2025-07-18 18:39