Business Steam rules updated to prohibit content that violates rules set forth by payment processors and banks - Valve's rules regarding what developers "shouldn't publish on Steam" have a new clause regarding standards set forth by payment processors.

https://automaton-media.com/en/news/steam-rules-updated-to-prohibit-content-that-violates-rules-set-forth-by-payment-processors-and-banks/

https://archive.ph/NXq04

Valve's rules regarding what developers "shouldn't publish on Steam" have a new clause regarding standards set forth by payment processors.

2025-07-16 17:17
Amber V



Valve has updated its rules regarding content that developers aren’t allowed to publish on Steam (as reported by Game*Spark [archive]). The “Rules and Guidelines” section of Steamworks Documentation now has an extra clause, and it suggests that publishers are required to comply with rules and standards set forth by various third parties involved in processing electronic payments. The rule seems to be predominantly related to adult content.

What you shouldn’t publish on Steam:
15. 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. In particular, certain kinds of adult only content.

Prior to the update, the list included 14 clauses, prohibiting things like hate speech, malware, sexual content depicting real people and any form of exploitation of children. The new 15th clause suggests that Steam may additionally have to crack down on specific types of adult content in response to the requirements of payment processors and banks. There are currently no specific examples of what this may entail.

Update (2025/07/15 at 18:30 JST): According to SteamDB [wayback], a large number of games has been removed from the platform in the past 16 hours. Judging rom the list, it appears “sex simulator” type games with keywords such as “incest” and “slavery” make up the majority. There are some confusing cases like the removal of the Ace Attorney-inspired investigation game Trails of Innocence, although this could be a coincidental deletion.

On a related note, various video game and manga hosting platforms in Japan have in recent years run into trouble with payment processors and credit card networks. Due to certain content on the platforms going against the (often undisclosed) rules and standards of third parties handling payments, the platforms ended up without support for credit card payment. This has led to loss of revenue and even the closure of platforms like Manga Library Z. It is possible that Steam’s new rule is a means to prevent such complications from arising, however, as the specific “rules and standards” of the payment processors are also unclear, publishers might need to be extra cautious with releasing their games on the platform.

Related articles: “It’s a security hole that endangers democracy itself.” NieR creator speaks out against payment processors pressuring Japanese adult content platforms

Visa Japan’s CEO says disabling card payment for legal adult content is “necessary to protect the brand”

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Niche Gamer: Steam updates rules to comply with payment processor censorship (archive)
Wccftech: Steam Publishing Guidelines Updated With Clause Prohibiting Content That Violates Payment Processor and Bank Rules (archive)

Rock Paper Shotgun: Valve change Steam's rules to let banks and credit card firms prohibit "certain kinds of adult only content" (archive)

In particular, this could lead to a stifling of games that are in any way non-conforming, particularly given the current climate of repression in Valve's home country, the USA. I know about the rule change thanks to Youtuber and self-described former game developer NoahFuel Gaming, who has posted on Bluesky about the potential fallout for projects the banks and financial corporations consider "adult" because they deviate from reactionary framings of sex and gender. As the Youtuber writes: "Queer content gets flagged as 'explicit' even when it's PG. A trans dev making a personal story? 'Too controversial.' A surreal queer VN? 'Sexualized.' Financial deplatforming in action."

GamesRadar: 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" (archive)

"Yeah... this is something that looks innocuous at first glance but it's a trojan horse," another believes. "LGBTQ+ has a habit of being mysteriously flagged as 'adult only.'" On ResetEra, similar points are being shared, as one writes: "Today it's porn games, tomorrow any game with LGBTQ+ content because it ends up labelled as 'adult.'"

Notebookcheck: Steam tightens adult content rules after pressure from payment giants (archive)

As spotted [archive] by TheGamer, this triggered a mini-purge according to the Steam Database, with many problematic games such as "Incest Tales", "Wolf on Rail", "Sex Village", "Slave of the Police Officer", and many more, being delisted from the storefront.

GamingOnLinux: Valve gets pressured by payment processors with a new rule for game devs and various adult games removed (archive)

 

[IAmNotAlpharius]

Trannies most affected.

 

[Vaclav]

Steam already has the built in ability to filter out adult/explicit material and, if I'm not mistaken, said filters are enabled by default. While I think porn games are an extreme example I'm sick of things designed for adults getting banned/removed for the sake of "protecting the children". Besides, with payment processors at the helm you know damned well this isn't going to be limited to sexually explicit material.

We were having this argument over lolicon a few threads ago. Payment processors are reserving the right to ban a storefront over offensive products they carry and they're not disclosing the exact criteria. They'll start with demanding people not sell "extreme adult-oriented content" but once this is accepted the envelope of prohibited material will grow to encompass anything that they claim causes "harm." For example, a game with no obese blacks on the cover is racist and reinforces body-shaming. Every main character must be a girlboss who's never wrong.

 

[Terrifik]

Trannies most affected.

for now my friend for now.

 

[COME ON OUT YOU RAPIST]

Wow, I have porn games blocked on my steam so I had no idea how degenerate they have gotten these days. Good for Valve.

This place is quick to defend payment processors being tyrants while the site's owner has been debanked repeatedly for wrongthink.

 

[Fatpacks]

This place is quick to defend payment processors being tyrants while the site's owner has been debanked repeatedly for wrongthink.

While I generally oppose debanking, in this case it mainly just affects degenerate lolicon and incest slop. Neither are worth defending.

We were having this argument over lolicon a few threads ago. Payment processors are reserving the right to ban a storefront over offensive products they carry and they're not disclosing the exact criteria. They'll start with demanding people not sell "extreme adult-oriented content" but once this is accepted the envelope of prohibited material will grow to encompass anything that they claim causes "harm." For example, a game with no obese blacks on the cover is racist and reinforces body-shaming. Every main character must be a girlboss who's never wrong.

And what are you going to do about it? If we're gonna go down we might as well drag lolicons and other such basement dwelling degens to hell with us.

 

[Markass the Worst]

Stop whining about payment processors and start accepting cryptocurrency, or you deserve your face getting kicked in. I'm tired of people being outraged while doing literally nothing about their situation.

 

[COME ON OUT YOU RAPIST]

Stop whining about payment processors and start accepting cryptocurrency, or you deserve your face getting kicked in. I'm tired of people being outraged while doing literally nothing about their situation.

How do you use BTC to buy Steam dollarydoos?

 

[Sugriva]

Surely THIS will cause people to rise up and demand change

 

[Markass the Worst]

How do you use BTC to buy Steam dollarydoos?

Valve doesn't accept it directly as of yet but there are various sites where you can buy Steam gift cards with crypto.

 

[Google.com]

Too bad Trump is too busy being a pedophile to address the continued payment processor censorship infecting every nook and cranny of this country.

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Valve doesn't accept it directly as of yet but there are various sites where you can buy Steam gift cards with crypto.

Which are 70% acquired via stolen credit cards.

 

[Fatpacks]

Surely THIS will cause people to rise up and demand change

There are still people who have not learned from the cattle's response to the COVID restrictions. 99% of people will gladly eat any shit sandwich TPTB hands them and ask for seconds. It's already too late to accrue the backlash needed against payment processors for censorship to stop.

The issue is settled, and Mastercard and VISA unfortunately won.

 

[Terrifik]

This place is quick to defend payment processors being tyrants while the site's owner has been debanked repeatedly for wrongthink.

null is happy its pilling people on payment processor question

Japanese Patreon part should be both Japanese works (anime.hentia,manga,games, media,artwork, books) & Patreon.

 

[X Prime]

While I generally oppose debanking, in this case it mainly just affects degenerate lolicon and incest slop. Neither are worth defending.

Correct. It is insane that some posters seem to make lolicon their hill they really want to die on.

Posts like these are why I am a Burger Suit Appreciator.

 

[Black Man Underwear]

Inb4 weaboos start flagging call of duty with incest tags.

 

[Terrifik]

Inb4 weaboos start flagging call of duty with incest tags.

not needed wait for gun.exe meme in 3 years.
ground has been built that poilicy what ever the banks feel is against their standard. ( gun games promote xyz & gun viloence)

 

[666NASTYFUCKINGFREAK666]

Quick, everybody start stockpiling copies of Hatred!

 

[POWER IN MISERY]

incest to the left of me, jews banks to the right, here i am stuck in the middle with you

 

[Hey Johnny Bravo]

What this might result in is trannies reporting every game they don't like to payment processors for content violations. Payment processors don't actually review any of this stuff and auto-flag based on the volume of reports. So, a game like Call of Duty could be de-listed due to false reports. Then, if it starts affecting sales, Gabe will get off his fat ass and sue payment processors for being retarded. It could be a W.

 

[Black Man Underwear]

not needed wait for gun.exe meme in 3 years.
ground has been built that poilicy what ever the banks feel is against their standard. ( gun games promote xyz & gun viloence)

Steam already tried delisting porn years ago.

They've been so relaxed up until now because people flooded SFW games with NSFW tags.

This has literally happened before.

 

[Testiculated Giraffe]

I dunno guys, debanking "Interactive Sex - Incest Twins - Episode 3" is pretty based.

We were having this argument over lolicon a few threads ago. Payment processors are reserving the right to ban a storefront over offensive products they carry and they're not disclosing the exact criteria. They'll start with demanding people not sell "extreme adult-oriented content" but once this is accepted the envelope of prohibited material will grow to encompass anything that they claim causes "harm." For example, a game with no obese blacks on the cover is racist and reinforces body-shaming. Every main character must be a girlboss who's never wrong.

I understand where you're coming from and generally agree with you, but consider the fact that the more payment processors restrict content the less money they make. Drawing a line at pornographic content depicting incest etc. doesn't necessarily mean they'll go full race-swapped Snape and push some woke agenda. Their desire for shekels will always take priority.