Steam’s Content Crackdown Sparks Debate After Innocent Game Gets Caught in the Crossfire — But There's a Twist

Trials of Innocence (Image Credit: GOG)

Steam’s ongoing cleanup of adult-only games has entered a new chapter. On July 16, Valve quietly introduced a new clause into its content rules, formally prohibiting any game that violates the standards of its payment processors, network providers, or banks. The move, while not publicly highlighted, has led to a noticeable wave of takedowns—some of which have sparked major confusion among developers and players alike.

One such case that stirred immediate concern involved Trials of Innocence, a courtroom drama adventure game inspired by Ace Attorney. When the game was suddenly removed from Steam the same day the policy update was introduced, fans took to forums to express their confusion. Unlike many of the titles caught in this sweep, Trials of Innocence does not feature nudity, hate speech, or the kind of adult themes seemingly targeted by the new rules. That made many wonder: was the game pulled by mistake?

Thankfully, that wasn't the case. In an update posted by the developers on July 18, it was revealed that Trials of Innocence had been taken down due to a DMCA claim — not the new adult content policy. So, no, Valve didn’t accidentally flag a detective drama as inappropriate. It turns out the removal was due to a copyright dispute, which is being handled separately.

Ironically, this mix-up may have worked in the game’s favor. The temporary disappearance drew attention to Trials of Innocence, and one user summed it up well: “On the plus side, I found out about your game due to this issue and can’t wait to be able to buy and play it! Someone remind me when it’s back up.”

But while that particular case has been cleared up, the broader issue surrounding Steam’s revised content rules is still creating waves. According to tracking data from SteamDB, numerous titles have been pulled from the storefront over the past few days. And while Valve hasn’t explicitly stated which games or content types are being targeted, there’s an obvious pattern. Many of the delisted titles include themes like incest, non-consensual acts, dub-con, hypnosis, brainwashing, and slavery — elements commonly found in adult visual novels and erotic games.

So far, Valve has yet to release an official statement explaining the scope or enforcement strategy behind this new rule. But the conversation is heating up — and not just among adult game fans. With financial institutions quietly becoming gatekeepers of digital content, the ripple effects could extend far beyond Steam’s more risqué corners.

Source: Automaton