For the past few days, Steam, the popular PC gaming platform owned by Valve Corporation, has been taking down numerous adult-themed games from its digital store. Simultaneously, they have implemented a new policy in their game publishing guidelines. While Valve hasn’t explicitly stated the reason for this action, it seems plausible that the change is due to the new rule.
According to reports from the website Steam Database Tracker (SteamDB), it has been discovered and announced that over 40 adult-themed games have been removed from the Steam Store within the past 2 days. If you scroll down far enough on the app events history page of SteamDB, you’ll encounter numerous listings with red strikethroughs.
On Steam, a fresh rule has been implemented prohibiting games that breach the guidelines established by payment service providers, credit card companies, and internet service providers.” (SteamDB’s operators posted this on their social media account)
The guideline SteamDB is pointing to is a fresh provision in the “What not to publish on Steam” section of the Steamworks welcome manual. This 15th rule specifically states: “Material that could potentially breach the regulations established by Steam’s payment processors, associated card networks and banks, as well as internet network providers, particularly content intended for adults only.
Almost certainly, the removal of these games from platforms was due to them breaching the guidelines established by payment processors and internet service providers after the implementation of their new policies. This was probably done to steer clear of any implied connection with certain types of explicit content.
It’s worth mentioning that banks, credit networks, and similar entities have previously tightened their regulations. Lately, Civitai and Tensor.Art have imposed restrictions on AI tools to create adult content using real people’s likenesses due to pressure from these organizations (thanks to 404 Media). Additionally, in 2022, Tumblr’s CEO Matt Mullenweg stated that the platform continues to prohibit pornography because “credit card companies are against porn.
It’s currently uncertain which specific payment processor rules the removed Steam games may have violated. A perusal through the list of de-listed titles suggests that many of them feature highly disturbing content, such as incest, sexual assault, torture, and slavery, among other graphic themes. Games with such explicit themes, along with numerous low-quality and inexpensive ones, have been accessible on Steam for a considerable period, occasionally causing controversy.
Steam’s recent rule change has stirred up debate, as some critics find it overly ambiguous and fail to clearly define the types of adult content that are prohibited on the platform. Many users also voice their concerns that this increased pressure from payment processors amounts to intrusive censorship, arguing that these companies should not have the power to dictate what other companies can or cannot sell.
As an analyst, I find myself in agreement with the sentiment expressed on Reddit: “Though I don’t personally purchase these games, the censorship issue here is troubling. By law, payment processors should maintain neutrality in their operations. Their primary function is to facilitate monetary transactions; they are not tasked with policing the products offered by the companies they serve.
A different user on BlueSky expressed concern about the gradual suppression of financial freedoms, which they believe will disproportionately impact creators who focus on LGBTQ+ themes. They warned that this could lead to a slippery slope, where content that is not explicit is still flagged as such, and projects by transgender developers, personal stories, surreal queer Visual Novels are often deemed too controversial or sexualized. In essence, they are referring to instances of financial deplatforming.
On a personal note, I won’t miss games like “Sister X Slaves” or “Cuckhold Princess,” but I do share the concerns of users and developers about vague game removals. Such actions could potentially set off a chain reaction, which is concerning. I believe it’s crucial for Valve to define their rules much more explicitly. I hope they provide clarification promptly rather than delaying it.
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2025-07-17 23:09