Steam Gives Credit Card Companies Power Over Game Content
Published On: July 17, 2025
Valve has quietly introduced new rules on Steam that ban games containing content that “may violate the rules and standards set forth by [its] payment processors and related card networks and banks.” The update, quietly added to Steam’s onboarding guidelines, has already led to the removal of at least 22 adult-rated games, many of which featured explicit sexual content.
Just hours after its discovery, dozens of adult games vanished from Steam. While some observers believe these removals target low-effort or extreme content, others see a broader trend that could extend far beyond these fringe cases. Past examples from OnlyFans, Fansly, and Patreon show that pressure from payment processors like Visa and Mastercard often leads to widespread censorship of adult content, regardless of legality or artistic intent.
Valve’s updated rules seem to aim at avoiding conflicts with financial institutions. But by deferring to the opaque standards of third-party banks and card networks, Valve is no longer the final authority on what gets published. This shift has raised fears that credit card companies now have de facto control over what developers can make and what users can buy.
This leaves many questions unanswered. How far is Valve willing to go with these new rules? Will nudity or sexual content in games like Baldur’s Gate be flagged next? Will only indie developers face removals, while bigger studios get a pass?
Adult game creators are now stuck trying to interpret vague policies with little help from Valve. Without clear guidelines or enforcement standards, developers risk investing time and money into projects that could be banned later with no explanation.
Several game creators have taken to social media to express frustration. Some worry that LGBTQ+ content or games addressing taboo topics could be quietly removed under these new standards.
As of now, Valve has not issued a public statement clarifying its new stance or how enforcement will work. The silence adds to developer anxiety and user speculation. It’s unclear if the recent game removals were just the beginning or if more bans are on the way.
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