Valve Corporation, the parent company behind the global gaming platform Steam, has updated its developer guidelines to ban “certain kinds of adult-only content,” citing pressure from payment processors, card networks, and banks. The change reflects ongoing financial gatekeeping within the digital content ecosystem, particularly around adult material.

The policy was quietly updated in Steam’s onboarding documentation for developers using the Steamworks platform. It now explicitly prohibits 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.”

While Valve has not published a list of banned themes, the timing of the new guideline coincides with the removal of several adult games, particularly those involving incest-themed narratives. The games were delisted without public notice, though some similar titles remain live on the platform, leading to confusion among developers and users.

Steam’s lack of clear communication about the policy has frustrated adult content creators who say they are left guessing what is now acceptable. Developers worry the vague wording will lead to over-enforcement or chilling effects across adult genres, particularly those touching on queer or transgressive storytelling.

“This looks innocuous at first glance, but it’s a Trojan horse,” one Steam user wrote on Bluesky, echoing concerns that financial institutions are becoming de facto moral arbiters of digital content.

Steam’s decision mirrors similar clampdowns seen across other platforms. In 2020, Visa and Mastercard suspended service to Pornhub following revelations about unverified and exploitative content. OnlyFans also attempted a temporary ban on explicit content in 2021, citing pressure from banks and card processors. The ban was later reversed after backlash.

Mastercard now requires any adult-content merchant on its network to prove robust moderation systems are in place. Critics argue this creates an impossible standard for smaller creators and platforms, effectively outsourcing content moderation to private financial entities.

Advocates for digital free expression and adult creators warn that this shift by Steam could have far-reaching consequences, especially for LGBTQ+ developers. Queer and experimental games are disproportionately flagged as explicit, even when the content is tame.

“This is the quiet normalization of financial censorship,” one developer wrote. “Queer content gets flagged as ‘explicit’ even when it’s PG. A trans dev telling their story? ‘Too controversial.’”

Others fear that what starts with banning extreme or niche adult content may gradually expand, sweeping in anything considered “unusual” or culturally sensitive. With Steam serving as the dominant PC gaming storefront globally, developers now face increased uncertainty about what content might jeopardize their access to basic payment infrastructure.