On July 16, Steam implemented significant updates to its game publisher policies, introducing a new clause that bans content breaching standards established by its payment processors, financial institutions, or internet service providers. As a result, several adult-themed games have been delisted from the platform for non-compliance with these revised regulations.

This policy shift occurred during a period of notable activity for the dominant PC gaming marketplace. Earlier in July, reports surfaced about Steam users bypassing mature content warnings that typically require age verification to access games featuring violent or sexual content. While the exact mechanisms for circumventing these warnings remain unspecified, it's uncertain whether Valve intends to formalize this as a universal feature or restrict it to particular regions.

Although Steam continues to host a selection of adult-rated games, the platform is increasingly enforcing stricter controls over permissible content. As detailed by GameSpark and Automaton, Valve has amended its Steamworks onboarding documentation to explicitly forbid material that contravenes financial service providers' regulations. While existing prohibitions against hate speech and defamation remain, the new Rule 15 specifically addresses adult-oriented content that might violate payment networks' terms of service.

Key Impacts of Steam's Policy Update

• Explicit prohibition of games violating payment processors' terms
• Targeted removal of sexually explicit adult content
• Immediate delisting of non-compliant titles
• Uncertain scope of enforcement regarding mature-rated games

SteamDB's tracking data confirms the platform has already begun removing games with explicit sexual content, mirroring recent content moderation efforts by Nintendo for its eShop platform. This parallel development suggests an industry-wide trend toward stricter digital storefront curation.

While games receiving the Adults Only (AO) rating have traditionally faced distribution challenges, Steam had previously served as a relatively permissive marketplace for such content. The long-term effects of these new restrictions on the platform's game library remain to be seen as Valve and its financial partners continue to refine enforcement parameters.