Steam recently updated its content guidelines, prompted by pressure from payment giants like Visa and Mastercard, leading to the removal of various contentious games. The updated guidelines now highlight restrictions on content that could conflict with the standards set by these payment providers and related networks, particularly focusing on certain adult-only content.
This change resulted in a notable purge, with several games such as “Incest Tales,” “Wolf on Rail,” “Sex Village,” and “Slave of the Police Officer” being removed from Steam’s storefront. While the specifics of the restricted content remain unclear, it appears that games featuring more controversial or fetishistic themes are being targeted.
This move could be seen positively, addressing a long-standing issue of adult-themed shovelware on Steam. However, it also raises concerns about the influence payment companies now have over the platform’s offerings, potentially controlling the variety of games available to players.
Visa and Mastercard have a history of regulating adult content on platforms like Pornhub and OnlyFans, illustrating their ongoing efforts in this area.
Adding to the pressure, the grassroots campaign group Collective Shout recently sent an open letter to major payment processors, including PayPal, Visa, and Mastercard. The letter accused them of profiting from problematic games on platforms like Steam and called for a demonstration of corporate social responsibility by ceasing payment processing for such content.
