Steam Removed LGBTQ+ Game in Response to Russian Regulator
- Sagar Mankar
- 14 minutes ago
- 2 min read
PC gaming giant Valve has reportedly censored content on its Steam platform following demands from the Russian government.
According to a report by Video Games Industry Memo, Russia’s media watchdog Roskomnadzor requested the removal of the card game Flick Solitaire due to its inclusion of LGBTQ+ artwork.
The Controversy Explained
Roskomnadzor issued official notices to Flick Games, demanding the title be pulled from the App Store, Google Play, and Steam.
The body claimed that certain deck designs featuring LGBTQ+ themes violated a 2006 federal law against “promoting non-traditional sexualities.” Shockingly, the request even equates LGBTQ+ content with paedophilia, as per VGIM’s reporting.
Apple and Google allegedly ignored the demand, keeping Flick Solitaire available in Russia. Valve, however, complied, removing the game from the Russian version of Steam. The company also shifted responsibility onto Flick Games, stating that under the Steam Distribution Agreement, developers must ensure their titles comply with local laws.
“[Flick Games] promised Valve under the Steam Distribution Agreement that your game complies with all applicable laws," the platform wrote.
Flick Solitaire has been available in Russia since 2020 on mobile platforms, but the government only took notice when the game launched on Steam in October 2025. Russia was reportedly the game’s second-largest player base.
Ian Masters, founder of Flick Games, shared a strong message about the situation. He said it’s “massively important” for major companies like Valve to stand up for LGBTQ+ content. “This isn’t ‘wokeness’, it’s basic human rights and equality,” Masters stated, adding that if Steam can’t support free expression, the platform should at least be transparent about why.
This isn’t the first time Valve has faced backlash over its moderation policies. Earlier in 2025, Valve drew criticism from the UK government for hosting Zerat Games’ No Mercy, which featured graphic sexual content and non-consensual acts. Although the game was eventually removed, that decision came from the developer, not Valve. Conversely, in 2023, Valve blocked Italian studio Santa Ragione from releasing its horror title Horses, a move the developer claimed could put them out of business.