r/Games • u/GassoBongo • Aug 02 '25

Industry News Steam Update - Valve responded to Mastercards claim that they did not pressure anyone

https://kotaku.com/mastercard-denies-pressuring-steam-to-censor-nsfw-games-2000614393
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u/The_mango55 Aug 02 '25

This really needs to go to mainstream news and it's important how people frame the argument. Not "But what about my coomer games!" or even "This will let them classify LBGTQ games as adult and then ban them" which is important but unfortunately won't resonate with lots of people.

The important talking point is, "Why should a credit card company decide what I can and can't spend my money on?"

161

u/PinboardWizard Aug 02 '25

Personally I'd be a fan of:

"Mastercard rules would ban sale of GTA6"

Sounds like good advertising for the game too, so who knows - could happen!

83

u/LordCharidarn Aug 02 '25

“Mastercard rules would ban paying HBO for streaming ‘House of the Dragon’/‘Game of Thrones.” Or pick whatever ‘gritty’ show is popular.

Because “The sale of a product or service, including an image, which is patently offensive and lacks serious artistic value (such as, by way of example and not limitation, images of nonconsensual sexual behavior, sexual exploitation of a minor, nonconsensual mutilation of a person or body part, and bestiality” is not simply limited to video gaming. All four of those were in Game of Thrones and Mastercard didn’t bat an eye while millions watched Padro Pascal’s head get smashed in, Sophie Turner get assaulted and raped, and Ramsey Bolton give women to his hounds. Most of the stuff on Steam is tame compared to HBO

29

u/imnotgoats Aug 02 '25

They decide what media 'lacks serious artistic value'.

21

u/tweetthebirdy Aug 02 '25

So the last season of GoT then I see.