Valve removes adult games from Steam under pressure from Visa and Mastercard, yet a title promoting Russian propaganda stays on

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A petition opposing Steam’s removal of adult games-pressured by payment companies such as Visa and Mastercard-has gained over 250,000 signatures. One game developer reported their PayPal account was frozen for more than a month, even though they were selling their game legally on Steam. Interestingly, a game considered controversial, like Squad 22: ZOV, remains available on the platform without any problems.

Steam censors mature games, but Russian military propaganda slips through

Squad 22: ZOV is a free strategy game on Steam that puts players in charge of small units completing missions, including one focused on the events in Mariupol. The game draws heavily from actual conflicts in Ukraine between 2014 and 2024. Critically, it’s been promoted by the Russian military and is even used for training purposes. The game is also supported by a group that provides aid to Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine. Many believe the game is essentially propaganda, presenting a biased view of the conflict and celebrating war from a Russian perspective.

The game’s title, “ZOV,” means “call” or “summons” in Russian, often used as a command to mobilize in a military setting. The developers likely chose this name to create a feeling of duty, national pride, and being called to action. This emphasis on military themes and ideology is a major reason the game has sparked controversy. The game doesn’t just offer gameplay; its story and messages clearly demonstrate how entertainment can be used to push a particular political viewpoint.

Squad 22 was released on Steam in May 2025 and has been available for nearly four months. It’s a frustrating example of a good game being overlooked, especially when Steam seems to censor titles with violence or mature content while allowing lesser games to go unnoticed.

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2025-09-15 16:02