Valve axes Steam’s adult games over payment rules

Valve is tightening its adult content policies to comply with requirements from Steam's payment partners, leading to the removal of numerous sexually explicit games this week.

As reported by GameSpark and Automaton, SteamDB tracking reveals significant backend activity as Steam updated its 'Rules and Guidelines' document, emphasizing that publishing specific types of adult content may violate these policies.

The newly added Section 15 now clearly prohibits content that "could breach terms set by Steam's payment processors, financial networks, or internet service providers."

SteamDB's X/Twitter account published an extensive list of recently removed adult games.

This may involve PayPal, as users in some regions have been unable to use it for Steam payments for five days.

Permanent link to removed titles: https://t.co/Vy44Q0hVGN

— SteamDB (@SteamDB) July 16, 2025

The policy update follows controversy earlier this year when UK Technology Secretary Peter Kyle criticized Steam for hosting a sexually explicit visual novel depicting non-consensual acts. Developer Zerat Games later withdrew the title after it was banned in the UK, Canada, and Australia.

While necessary for compliance, Valve's revised policies have drawn criticism for perceived censorship and ambiguous wording.

Separately, Valve's co-founder Gabe Newell recently shared rare details about living and working aboard his luxury superyacht, which he jokingly refers to as a "boat."