Valve has updated its Steamworks publishing guidelines to ban games that violate the rules set by payment processors like Visa and Mastercard. The new policy specifically targets “certain kinds of adult only content” and marks the first time Valve has explicitly acknowledged that payment processor requirements influence what can be sold on Steam.
The updated guidelines now clearly state that Steam prohibits “Content that may violate the rules and standards set forth by Steam’s payment processors and related card networks and banks, or internet network providers.” This puts in writing what had previously just been an unofficial practice affecting adult-themed games on the platform.
After this policy update, several explicit games have already been removed from the store. Reports say that titles containing terms like “incest” or “slave” were among the first to be taken down, though some non-explicit games may have been caught up in the mess just because of name-based flagging.
This move brings Steam in line with other digital platforms that have faced the same kind of pressure. Both Patreon and OnlyFans have put similar restrictions in place after payment processors threatened to cut off their services. For these platforms, ignoring payment processor rules just isn’t on the table – if they lose access to major payment systems, their whole business falls apart.
This change affects more than just the most explicit content. Developers of adult-oriented games now have to deal with even more uncertainty about what might get pulled, since payment processor rules can be strict and sometimes seem all over the place. Some say they barely get any warning or explanation when their games get removed from the platform.
Since 2018, Steam had a pretty relaxed approach to adult games, letting a lot of explicit visual novels and adult-themed content stay up as long as they followed some rules. Still, developers in this genre have often complained about unpredictable moderation and surprise removals.
Credit card overlords
The real power behind these changes sits with Visa and Mastercard, which handle most digital payments around the world. These companies set “acceptable use” policies that limit what kind of content can be sold, and their reach goes everywhere. When they decide something crosses the line, platforms basically have to go along or risk being locked out of the payment system completely.
No one really knows what’s next for developers of adult or controversial games on Steam. Right now, the removals seem to focus on the most explicit stuff, but there’s real worry that the policy could go further if payment processors get even stricter. Others have talked about using cryptocurrencies as an alternative, but that’s just not realistic for a big platform like Steam.
