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)

 

[COME ON OUT YOU RAPIST]

Ideally, steam would be cracking down on this degeneracy

Or just filter it. I think Toby Fox games turn people into retards but I'm not insisting his work be removed from Steam.

 

[God of Nothing]

I browse it a few times a year, mostly around summer/winter/fall sales. Never have I seen games about pedophilia or incest. Knowing it's there I have to wonder why steam even allowed this shit on the platform in the first place. Ideally, steam would be cracking down on this degeneracy, but since they haven't, I'm not gonna pretend to be upset someone else got the ball rolling.

Well, Blue Archive, a game where you play as a teacher who has sleepovers with his all female students, came out not that long ago. There's even a thread on it here.
and the answer to why steam allowed it is because it earned them money

The only decent people involved in this situation are the people who buy normal games.

 

[Lvkester Endorser]

Or just filter it. I think Toby Fox games turn people into retards but I'm not insisting his work be removed from Steam.

For any other content I would agree, but games about rape and incest should not even exist, much less be so readily available, so no, I don't think the solution is filtering. Especially since I personally never saw any, and there seems to be PLENTY. The content is just too fucked up for me to see it as "ah its not for me, but to each their own", you know?

 

[Would]

This is why Lolbertarians like Gabe and the like will always fail. Eventually some retard who can be bought out will sell out your empire to the will of the Bergs and Steins.

 

[evilsponge]

How do you get the trolley to hit both?

 

[COME ON OUT YOU RAPIST]

The content is just too fucked up for me to see it as "ah its not for me, but to each their own", you know?

Not at all. I'm one of those free speech and free art absolutists, even if my opinions on art or expression align pretty closely with this place. I also think people already make some pretty warped video games, it's just that Americans are more uncomfortable with sex than violence.

 

[Nick Gars]

How do you get the trolley to hit both?
View attachment 7653582

A forbidden technique called "The Tokyo Drift".

 

[Lvkester Endorser]

I

Not at all. I'm one of those free speech and free art absolutists, even if my opinions on art or expression align pretty closely with this place. I also think people already make some pretty warped video games, it's just that Americans are more uncomfortable with sex than violence.

I am not an American. We will never agree on this topic, but I like that you did not sperg out and start calling me a retard or whatever. A wholesome kiwi moment.

 

[oh no its pipkun]

i remember the AO adults only rating hubub in the 90s. think back then it was something on pc gamers could obtain because consoles wouldnt touch it. now its back. there is nothing new under the sun.

A forbidden technique called "The Tokyo Drift".

the drift you want is the 4 wheel drift from rallycross. the tokyo drift would still only hit one.

 

[CoolDudeXD]

Total credit card company death.

 

[COME ON OUT YOU RAPIST]

Apparently games with hypnosis are also being taken down now. Steam seems to be following Patreon's guidelines.

 

[Agent Abe Caprine]

Apparently games with hypnosis are also being taken down now. Steam seems to be following Patreon's guidelines.

RIP Psychonauts.

 

[Fatsuit Shinji]

Last time I bought a gun with my debit card the payment was frozen, I got a text message asking me if I was the one making the purchase, and when I replied 'yes' the payment was allowed to go through. I've never gotten anything like that for other purchases, not even when I went on a road trip and bought shit in a state I've never been to before.

This is why you and others here need to use an ATM and/or other places first
to withdraw cash for guns, ammunition, and etc. precisely because of this. Plus to keep the banks and govt from tracking and databasing your 2nd and now 1st Amendment purchases.

A forbidden technique called "The Tokyo Drift".

the drift you want is the 4 wheel drift from rallycross. the tokyo drift would still only hit one.

 

[Bonesjones]

Apparently games with hypnosis are also being taken down now. Steam seems to be following Patreon's guidelines.

Hypnosis is loss of consent, i.e. Rape. Its funny watching everyone freak out about a line that was set a decade ago.

 

[Fagnacious D]

How much longer before the payment processors decide that games that aren't "diverse" enough are considered promoting white supremacy and therefore banned?

 

[Terrifik]

oh my fucking god

The games in question this would eliminate from distribution, at least by Steam, have pedophilia, yes. Fact you're not pissed at Steam for not banning it before all of this and only doing it now because muh payment proc

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essors is proof you're fucking retarded. There is another, bigger issue at hand here. Jesus fucking Christ.

It's mostly dead internet theory of no one caring until some starts jangling the system.
Steam was fine take your money & add NSFW filter.
This just makes job easier less hit pieces &have all the backing of payment processor & Blackrock .

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Took till page 7 loli & x serging for bait post instead of 5

 

[Ghostse]

Trail of Tears

This is bullshit.
The Indians sold their land to the US government, including agreements to be off the land by Jan 1 several years down the road (now, we can question the terms of the sale, as the Cherokee did by stabbing to death the tribal president who agreed to the deal, but regardless this was approved by Indians themselves and was not them being "Forced off"). and in fact the vast majority of the tribe was on their new reservation well before the deadline.
Residents of the land additionally had the option of renouncing tribal affiliation and remaining in place. Or if not exactly in place, not being deported to Oklahoma.

However it was a several hundred mile trek in 1800's conditions. 'Member dying of dysentary? This meant the people who didn't make the trip were usually sick, old (or very young) or poor (read: malnourished and likely in ill-health due it it). So when the army showed up Jan 1 to enforce the law, they found a bunch of olds and sicks - a population with a very high mortality rate.

The deal went into effect Jan 1, which is the middle of winter, and so January 1 was when the army started enforcing the order. Its likely many of the deaths on the deportation trail would have been avoided by delaying enforcement until April.

Now, this is not to say this couldn't have been handled better, i.e. delaying travel, army better ready to handle what they encountered, better communication to especially the older population that "My dude, you just sign this paper saying you want to be a US citizen not a tribal one and you'll get to stay". But the media likes to portray this as some death march at bayonet point and it was anything but.

 

[Kivotos strongest Sensei]

This is the reason you don't give the power of deciding what you're allowed to spend your money on to the government or private companies. The argument that "X thing needs to be banned because it might potentially cause harm to someone in the future" can be applied to anything, at any point, for any reason.

And before anyone starts saying "you just want to jerk of to drawings of children", I was branded disruptive and a lolicon for making the same arguments half the people in this thread are making, but two weeks ago.

 

[Terrifik]

avtar time

https://x.com/MelTankardReist/status/1944963778749374933

 

[Do Not Touch Me Pls]

Wanna bet that the Feminist group is actually a European Union/UN front as well?

This sounds absolutely like something they would do and for all we know the credit card companies serve their European masters even if their HQ is in California.

Remember that they do not need to force Japan lawmakers, the Internet is in their beck and call since 2016.

These are the exact same group people smuggling children from Kosovo to Epstein Island (or the likes of it) while they cancel you for one small innuendo that crosses the line.

There's no turning back for this unless all of the globalist groups somehow vanish off the face of the earth and their leaders being locked behind bars never to come back again.