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)

 

[Rome's rightful successor]

What's the odds this has something to do with the ADL's attempts to blackmail Steam in the last couple of years?

 

[twodogsinacoat]

You see it’s good that banks can tell everyone what to do because it just is okay.

 

[Florid Icewater]

Judging rom the list, it appears “sex simulator” type games with keywords such as “incest” and “slavery” make up the majority

i wanted to feel indignant or enraged from the title, but reading this i just can't help but laugh.

i do agree payment should be free and not be used to police hentai though.

 

[Sperglord666]

I mean free speech and all that, but I've found porn games on the steam that have obvious loli content. Apparently they can get around it by simply putting a disclaimer that reads that all characters are over the age 18..

Apparently thats been enough for Steam. I guess just ignore the school uniforms and obvious child like features they might have.

 

[Shroom King]

There is only one response to bankers going outside their lane: Death to the Jews.

 

[REGENDarySumanai]

Once again, payment processors shouldn't be the morality police and should only exist to move money from one party to another. Finding a way to curb this behavior should be paramount.

 

[neger psykolog]

Unrelated, I get so pissed when people look at a person who has crypto wallets in their bio or something and instantly write them off as "cryptobros". Apparently it's bad to have full control over one's own money? The jewish trickery software has installed itself onto the brains of these retards

The best part is the largest contingent of crypto haters have been trannies, LGBT and furries so you'll save yourself tons of time.

 

[Terrifik]

I don't give a fuck about tranny incest porn games. What I care about is the fact that payment processors basically serve as content moderators now. A bit like those Tier 1 ISPs that raped us during DKF (Cogent, Hurricane Electric). Crypto is the future basically.
Unrelated, I get so pissed when people look at a person who has crypto wallets in their bio or something and instantly write them off as "cryptobros". Apparently it's bad to have full control over one's own money? The jewish trickery software has installed itself onto the brains of these retards

After Trump crypto will be delt with.
Only good news it's pilling people payment processor question.

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Porn hub & onlyfans is only recent due to Jeffery epstin & lawsuits.
Other thing forgotten that even terrorist are able get their money from banks.(us-aide issue)

 

[Punkin_Man]

Nothing ever happens.

 

[CircuSphere]

The film industry survived the Hayes Code.

Lol, are you sure about that? Last I checked Hollywood was a cesspit of slop, blatant propaganda and money laundering that is hemorrhaging cash at an alarming rate.

Ratings associations simply perform regulatory capture extrajudicially and are a method for maintaining a monopoly. Not only do they create fee barriers, ideological barriers and attorney shaped barriers to the market, Hayes existed to ensure these big studios could edge out regional competitors though the economics of scale. The big fear was that state regulation rather than federal would make releasing national titles near impossible and splinter the industry into regional competitors, it's part of why Hollywood is the monolithic entity it is today.

 

[Terrifik]

Nothing ever happens.
View attachment 7651834

Jannying takes time give it a month tops.

 

[Gloria The Glorious]

Low effort porn and incest titles I have no tears to shed for getting the ax. But I am concerned, because why should I believe it will end there?

 

[Jones Kaczynski]

The goonercaust begins

 

[regalterry]

I wonder what the ethnic makeup of the people running Visa, MasterCard and PayPal is? Or their major shareholders?

Anyone that doesn't see where this is all going is a genuine retard.

 

[Hey Johnny Bravo]

I mean free speech and all that, but I've found porn games on the steam that have obvious loli content. Apparently they can get around it by simply putting a disclaimer that reads that all characters are over the age 18..

Apparently thats been enough for Steam. I guess just ignore the school uniforms and obvious child like features they might have.

Actually how they do this is they sell the base game with no overt sexual content in it, but you have to go to the developer's/publisher's website to get a "patch" which unlocks all the sexual content.

 

[The Mass Shooter Ron Soye]

I wonder what the ethnic makeup of the people running Visa, MasterCard and PayPal is? Or their major shareholders?

Joos aside, I'd like to see some internal documents or internal/external communication related to these reputational risk shakedowns. I don't think we've seen that before but it might only be a matter of time as more companies and groups get pissed off.

 

[Disdainer of the Plebs]

Gee banks, thank you for making the decision on my behalf of what kinds of degeneracy I'm allowed to participate in. How would the world survive without you acting as the morality police?

I’m more worried about the payment processors banning political incorrectness than anime degeneracy. They would never allow GTA 4 to be released today.

 

[thx1138]

Time to start the clock on how long will it be before payment processors abuses Steam to remove a game that goes against their morally bankrupt ethos.

Your account has been Banned from Steam.
Reason: Failure to Purchase Dragon Age: Genderfukt GOTY edition with season pass
Date ban will be lifted: Never
[VISA 0000000000001234]

 

[i440BX]

I have a bit of positivity because I think this happening will have large consequences and much more people, normies will find out about it and ask, why is my shooter\horror game censored.

This is IMO the beginning of the end for the Bank Censorship Complex. If not, it will not be too long before their influence decreases.

Till then, sail the seven seas. Don't lose your hope.
Norwegian 80s rock song: TNT - Seven Seas

 

[TheGuntinator]

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

This is the thing for me, were any actual games effected, or just these copypaste visual novel/puzzle/low effort porn games? It reminds of the last "Valve Censorship!!" Scandal where the games that were removed were basically AI/asset flips shat out at a pace of three per day, and actual games with gameplay and a point were unaffected?

Like I literally do not care that Hentai Puzzle 53 got censored even if it was malicious because they aren't games. They are not intended to be games. They shouldn't be on Steam. It's literally just spam. If a Sextroidvania gets censored, I'll care.

Pornhub admitted they put tranny girlcock content on the front page by default to push fag ideology.

They did it to create an artificial trend of straight men being attracted to trannies. I never see it mentioned casually so it's safe to say it failed.

Anyone who uses that argument is either ragebaiting or fucking retarded.

I knew I wasnt crazy when I noticed 100% of recommended content is content I have never shown even a passing interest in. Don't you love the porn industry's idea of consent?