Steam Expands Content Restrictions too Early Access Games
SEATTLE,WA – Steam is extending its recent crackdown on games with mature themes to include titles in Early Access,raising concerns among independent developers and prompting renewed scrutiny of content moderation policies on the platform. the move follows similar restrictions implemented on fully released games, resulting in the removal of hundreds of titles.
The widening scope of these restrictions is particularly troubling for smaller developers whose projects, even those with limited or non-explicit mature content, are being caught in the crosshairs. This escalation stems from pressure on payment processors like Visa and Mastercard to enforce brand-safety and anti-trafficking rules, impacting how platforms like Steam navigate content policies. Itch.io previously removed hundreds of games and over 20,000 titles before Steam began its removals.
The issue centers on how card payments are processed. Steam and Itch.io rely on acquiring banks and processors to handle transactions, and these intermediaries are obligated to adhere to the card networks’ guidelines. This dynamic has led to inconsistent enforcement and uncertainty for developers.The text-based game VILE: Exhumed, featuring limited imagery and innuendo, was recently banned from Steam and delisted from Itch.io, illustrating the breadth of the current restrictions.
The situation remains fluid, with developers and consumers awaiting clearer policies from platforms or revised standards from payment processors. Engadget has reached out to Valve for comment.