Steam now prohibits games that violate the "rules and standards" of payment processors, banks, and more, and users are worried it might affect more than just "certain kinds of adult-only content"

Steam sale: a screenshot of a collection games in a Steam library — (Image credit: Valve)

Steam has added a new rule to its list of guidelines outlining what developers are allowed to publish on it, which it says will affect "certain kinds of adult-only content."

As reported by Automaton, adding to the clauses covering bans on hate speech, sexually explicit images of real people, malware, and more, Steam now states that "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" is not allowed. It adds: "In particular, certain kinds of adult-only content."

It might sound like a bit of an unusual one at first, but recent years have seen certain payment providers take a stance against adult content, initially as a response to allegations in 2020 of Pornhub hosting videos of child abuse and rape. In 2020, Mastercard and Visa blocked the use of their cards on Pornhub, while in 2021, Mastercard announced it was extending its "Specialty Merchant Registration requirements," adding: "The banks that connect merchants to our network will need to certify that the seller of adult content has effective controls in place to monitor, block and, where necessary, take down all illegal content."

However, some Steam users feel that the rule change feeds into the "quiet normalization of financial censorship," with some concerned that it might end up affecting more than just adult content on the platform. "Queer content gets flagged as 'explicit' even when it's PG," one writes, worried about what's to come. "A trans dev making a personal story? 'Too controversial.' A surreal queer [visual novel]? 'Sexualized.' Financial deplatforming in action."

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I'm GamesRadar+'s Deputy News Editor, working alongside the rest of the news team to deliver cool gaming stories that we love. After spending more hours than I can count filling The University of Sheffield's student newspaper with Pokemon and indie game content, and picking up a degree in Journalism Studies, I started my career at GAMINGbible where I worked as a journalist for over a year and a half. I then became TechRadar Gaming's news writer, where I sourced stories and wrote about all sorts of intriguing topics. In my spare time, you're sure to find me on my Nintendo Switch or PS5 playing through story-driven RPGs like Xenoblade Chronicles and Persona 5 Royal, nuzlocking old Pokemon games, or going for a Victory Royale in Fortnite.

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