Steam users are mobilizing in response to the sudden removal of several adult-oriented games from the popular PC gaming platform. In early June 2024, numerous titles featuring adult content disappeared from Steam’s catalog, leaving many gamers confused and frustrated.
The removals weren’t a decision made by Valve, Steam’s parent company, but rather the result of pressure from payment giants Visa and Mastercard. These financial companies reportedly threatened to withdraw their payment processing services if Steam continued to host certain adult games that feature controversial themes like incest or non-consensual scenarios.
This crackdown appears to have followed lobbying efforts from advocacy groups, notably the Australian organization Collective Shout, which campaigns against sexualized content it considers harmful. The situation highlights a growing trend where payment processors wield significant influence over what content can exist on digital platforms.
In response, Steam users have launched a grassroots campaign encouraging gamers to contact Visa and Mastercard directly. Players are making phone calls, sending emails, and spreading templates for formal complaints across various platforms. The volume of these contacts has been significant enough that call center employees reportedly began immediately asking if incoming calls were related to the Steam situation.
“Payment processors should just process payments if they’re legal,” argued one user participating in the campaign. “They shouldn’t be in the business of telling people what they can and cannot buy.”
This isn’t the first time payment processors have influenced content decisions. Similar situations have affected platforms like OnlyFans, Patreon, and various Japanese adult content sites. In 2021, OnlyFans nearly banned all adult content due to pressure from payment processors but reversed course after massive public backlash.
The current situation is complicated by varying international laws about what constitutes illegal content. What’s acceptable in one country may be prohibited in another, making global platforms like Steam struggle with compliance across different jurisdictions.
Wallets speak louder than words
The campaign appears to be gaining traction. Some users report that their complaints are being escalated up corporate chains at Visa and Mastercard. Supporters argue that if payment processors enacted these changes due to customer complaints initially, they might reverse course when faced with even more customer pushback.
While some users acknowledge that certain removed content might be problematic, many still object to payment processors making these decisions rather than the platforms themselves or regulatory bodies. The outcome of this grassroots campaign could set important precedents for how digital content is regulated in the future.
