New Steam rules prohibit games that upset “payment processors”, and many adult-only games are now being removed

Over the past few years, Steam has opened up opportunities for mature content in video games by introducing a section of such games and even offering an option to conceal them, known as “Hide Mature Content,” so as to protect ordinary users from explicit material on their main page.

Yet, certain video game enthusiasts express concern over potential decreases in mature content available on the PC marketplace due to newly imposed regulations, which prevent games deemed offensive to the digital store’s financial processors.

New Steam rules have been added

Through Automaton’s updates, any game that disrupts or poses issues for Steam’s payment processors, card networks, banks, and internet service providers may no longer be available for sale on their platform.

According to the updated rules, certain forms of mature content are not allowed for sale, following similar actions taken on modding platform Nexus Mods and several other websites previously.

Historically, platforms like Mastercard and Visa have restricted the usage of their cards for specific adult websites. In essence, these payment processors, including Mastercard, prefer not to facilitate transactions involving particular kinds of content.

As a passionate gamer, I’ve been following the recent uproar over the adult-themed Steam game ‘No Mercy.’

Following the release of these new guidelines, SteamDB’s Recent App Events indicate several games have been taken off the market. According to GamesRadar, this predominantly involves games with mature content and sensitive themes, particularly those that heavily feature family dynamics.

As a passionate advocate for creative freedom, I understand the concerns about censorship. However, it’s crucial to recognize that certain forms of adult content are often restricted by payment processors due to their role in facilitating the sale of specific content through their platforms. Furthermore, when looking at the games being taken down from Steam right now, you’ll find many of them available on alternative platforms such as Itch or more specialized websites.

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2025-07-16 15:40