On July 16, Steam revised its game publishing rules, introducing a clause that bans any content not adhering to the standards of its payment processors and banks. In light of this change, Steam has begun to remove several adult-oriented games from its platform that breach the updated guidelines.

This policy alteration emerges as Steam is facing scrutiny over its handling of mature content. Earlier reports indicated that users had found ways to bypass warnings for mature content while browsing the platform. This recent update complicates the platform’s approach to content management and categorization.

While Steam has long enforced rules against games depicting hate speech or defamatory content, the addition of a new rule specifically targeting explicit adult content signals a shift in operational standards. Following this enforcement, various games that feature explicit sexual themes have already been eliminated from the storefront. However, the scope of this enforcement and its applicability to adult-rated games remain somewhat ambiguous.

As stated by GameSpark and corroborated by multiple reports, the guidelines not only restrict content associated with explicit materials but also reflect Steam’s intent to align with payment processing standards.

Summary of Key Points:

• Steam’s updated rules ban games violating payment processor terms.
• The focus is on content that includes sexually explicit materials and tags.
• Some games have been removed from the platform due to these new regulations.
• The application of these rules to various types of mature games remains uncertain.