Steam Quietly Begins Removing Adult-Only Games Due to Payment Processor Rules

The game "No Mercy," which features disturbing content involving sexual violence and incest, has been banned in multiple countries and removed from Steam in mid-April (Image Credit: Steam)

Steam is starting to remove some adult-only games from its platform, thanks to a new policy update from Valve that's tied to the rules of major payment processors like Visa, Mastercard, and PayPal.

This change slipped in around mid-April 2025, when Valve updated its developer documentation without any big announcement. This rule was first spotted by SteamDB, a third-party site that tracks all things Steam. It was tucked away under the “What you shouldn’t publish on Steam” section, and it specifically warns against publishing content that might violate the “rules and standards” of payment providers—calling out “certain kinds of adult-only content” as a problem area.

Shortly after the update, game removals began. As reported by Polygon, at least 22 adult games have already disappeared from the platform. While Valve hasn’t shared an official list or explanation, many of the affected titles reportedly dealt with mature or taboo themes—particularly incest—which tend to set off alarms for payment processors.

Steam UI showing a list of adult titles marked as removed (Credit: SteamDB)

Here’s what the updated rule says:

“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.”

The issue is, Valve hasn’t provided any real clarity on what qualifies as a violation. Developers are now left trying to figure out what’s still allowed and what might get pulled. That’s especially frustrating given that Valve has historically taken a more relaxed approach to adult content. Back in 2018, the company essentially said it wouldn’t police what gets published on Steam as long as it wasn’t illegal or outright trolling.

That hands-off policy opened the doors for all sorts of adult games to thrive on the platform, from light-hearted romance simulators to more explicit content hidden behind age-gates. But now, Valve seems to be playing it safe, shifting the decision-making power to credit card companies and banks.

According to PC Gamer, these financial institutions have long had a tricky relationship with adult content. They often impose vague and conservative rules, making it tough for platforms to know exactly what’s allowed. Even educational or non-explicit queer content can sometimes be flagged, depending on who’s reviewing it.

That’s part of why this situation is being called “financial censorship” by critics online. Developers and players alike are worried that LGBTQIA+ content, in particular, could be at risk under these unclear rules. YouTuber NoahFuel Gaming put it bluntly on social media: “Banks like Visa and Mastercard are now backdoor moral authorities... Queer content gets flagged as ‘explicit’ even when it’s PG.”

And that concern isn’t without reason. While indie devs making niche or transgressive content might be heavily scrutinized, big-budget games with sexual themes rarely get the same treatment. It’s a double standard that many feel is unfair—and with Valve staying quiet on the matter, the confusion is only growing.

So far, Valve hasn’t made any public comments or offered a clear appeal mechanism for developers whose games have been removed. As of now, it’s still unclear how widespread the removals will be or how strictly the new rules will be enforced going forward.