Steam now requires age verification for users in the United Kingdom, introducing a credit card check to access the Steam Store and mature content. The rollout went live on August 29, 2025, aligning the platform with guidance from Ofcom under the UK Online Safety Act, which calls for robust age assurance to protect younger users from harmful or inappropriate material.
How the new verification works
– UK-based accounts will be prompted to verify age using a credit card.
– If you already have a valid credit card linked to your Steam account, you should be verified automatically without additional steps.
– Valve chose credit card verification because, in the UK, credit cards are issued only to individuals 18 and older, making them a strong indicator of age.
– The process is handled internally through Valve’s PCI-DSS certified payment system, using the same type of data processed during normal purchases. Valve says no external age-verification vendors are involved, helping keep sensitive details private.
Why it matters
– The change helps ensure that mature content is only accessible to adults, in line with UK online safety regulations.
– It also makes it harder to bypass age restrictions through account sharing, since the verification ties access to an adult-owned account with a verified credit card.
Who is affected
– This requirement currently applies only to Steam accounts registered in the UK.
– Industry watchers expect similar rules could spread to other regions depending on local regulations, but no wider rollout has been announced.
What UK users should do now
– Sign in to your Steam account from the UK.
– If prompted, add a valid credit card and follow the on-screen steps to confirm your age.
– If you already store a credit card on your account, check that your access to the Store and mature content features remains uninterrupted.
Key points to remember
– Live date: August 29, 2025.
– Method: One-time credit card age verification for UK-based accounts.
– Privacy: Verification is processed by Valve’s own PCI-DSS certified payment systems; data isn’t shared with outside parties.
– Scope: Focused on complying with the UK Online Safety Act and Ofcom’s guidance; could influence future policies elsewhere.
This update is designed to balance compliance and privacy, keeping mature content behind an adult-only gate while minimizing data exposure and friction for existing customers.
