Steam UK Users Must Verify Age via Credit Card Under Online Safety Act Rules

Steam users in the UK are now facing a new requirement: verify your age with a credit card if you want access to games or store pages featuring mature content.

This change, which rolled out on August 29, is Valve’s way of complying with the UK’s Online Safety Act — a law designed to make the internet safer for younger users.

Unlike other platforms such as Reddit, Discord, and Bluesky that ask for selfies or photo IDs, Steam’s method is refreshingly simple. All UK users need to do is log into their account, head to the Account Details page, and add a valid credit card with their name and billing address. Once that’s done, Steam runs a £0 authorization and may prompt a one-time password depending on your bank’s security settings. If everything checks out, you’ll be able to adjust your Store Preferences and unlock access to mature content.

This includes not only game store pages but also their associated community hubs.

Valve explained that this approach was chosen to “preserve the maximum degree of user privacy.” According to their official statement, storing a credit card acts as a deterrent against account sharing and avoids collecting sensitive biometric data. Since UK residents must be at least 18 to get a credit card, the age check is essentially outsourced to the banks.

Meanwhile, other platforms are also stepping up their age verification game. Microsoft is rolling out similar checks for Xbox users, and Discord’s selfie-based system — once hilariously bypassed using Death Stranding 2’s photo mode — has been patched to prevent such workarounds.

As per Ofcom’s guidance, credit card verification is considered one of the most reliable age assurance methods. It’s less invasive than facial scans and doesn’t reveal your content preferences to third parties. Valve’s system is also PCI-DSS certified, meaning it meets industry standards for secure payment processing.

This update follows Valve’s July 16 publishing rule changes, which led to the removal of several adult-themed titles from Steam. The changes were not due to a new UK law but were instead driven by new rules set by payment processors and global network providers, impacting platforms globally. Some gamers have taken to social media to protest, arguing that the changes restrict creative freedom and limit access to niche content.