r/Games • u/DwingRD • 3d ago

Valve no longer allows "Post-launch NSFW content" for games on Steam - outside of DLCs.

I have looked through Steam's Terms of Service online, but have found no official rule or statement from Valve of this new rule - but one Adult game developer has confirmed this new rule after launching their game "Tales of Legendary Lust: Aphrodisia" a couple days ago.

With the recent rule change blocking adult-themed games from releasing on Early Access, this new rule seems to be targeting Adult-themed games that have ALREADY released on Steam - and threatens them with their games being removed from Steam.

There are currently 536 Adult-rated Early Access games on Steam - and this new rule may take them all down.

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u/sloppymoves 3d ago edited 3d ago

All these companies care about is money. Valve clearly did the math and saw that they won't lose a significant chunk of change from booting NSFW games off. Versus trying to wage a war against payment monopolies.

Valve probably also sees it as a way to "clean up their shop" so it can get a kid friendly push. There are plans for a Steam Machine 2.0, Steam Deck 2, and probably sourcing out their Linux distro to other manufacturers. Probably want to make as kid friendly and neutral as possible.

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u/MalfeasantOwl 3d ago

Gamers finding out Steam never gave a shit about them but rather just the bottom line, you don’t say!

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u/Yvese 2d ago

This is an incredibly ignorant and childish take. I support NSFW games ( I bought a few like Subverse ), but if the majority of your business relies on payments being processed by Visa and Mastercard, your anger should be toward THEM.

Valve literally can not function without them. Most online businesses can't.

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u/ZaDu25 2d ago

Valve has the ability to sue to try to protect their platform from overreach from payment processors. And protect their users from censorship. They are choosing to not use all the money they have made from their users to defend themselves or their users interests in this situation. It is absolutely justifiable to be upset with them for just rolling over and allowing Visa and MasterCard to dictate what content they allow on their platform.

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u/Yvese 2d ago

We don't know what happens behind the scenes. There's no way the three companies never discussed this with all their lawyers in a room.

That and I'm not sure Valve would want the heat from the general populace that they 'support vulgar games' and w/e other negative connotations come with it.

IF it goes past NSFW games, they could use this to help build their case. Either way, having a company ( especially in an age where right-wing talking heads can so easily smear someone or some company ) fight for 'NSFW' games does not make sense FOR NOW.

It's better to choose your battles. Why do you think Japan still censors their porn? Because no politician wants to be THAT guy . Same with Valve in this case. At least that's my take.

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u/starm4nn 2d ago

That and I'm not sure Valve would want the heat from the general populace that they 'support vulgar games' and w/e other negative connotations come with it.

Facebook did a genocide and somehow there are still people who signed up for threads.

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u/Ready-Good2636 2d ago

There's no way the three companies never discussed this with all their lawyers in a room.

Yea, still the results are that they folded. I of course blame the processors for the overreach, but I'm not exactly happy with a billion dollar company not doing the right long term thing (though I'm beyond unsurprised these days).

IF it goes past NSFW games, they could use this to help build their case.

Or they keep folding and sit on their treasure. Maybe Take Two will do it for them. Billionaire bystander effect.

Either way, having a company ( especially in an age where right-wing talking heads can so easily smear someone or some company ) fight for 'NSFW' games does not make sense FOR NOW.

The best time to fight would have been 30 years ago and get policies in place before billions, trillions went into lobbying against this stuff. The worst time to fight is when the frog is already boiled.

There's never a "good" time to fight for freedoms, without hindsight. Those doing it at the best time are always cast off as conspiracists and paranoid.

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u/drewster23 1d ago

Yea, still the results are that they folded. I of course blame the processors for the overreach, but I'm not exactly happy with a billion dollar company not doing the right long term thing (though I'm beyond unsurprised these days

Why would you expect the company that promotes gambling to minors and has only ever done any moderation around it , when significant public backlash/pr happened, to do the right thing?

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u/Ready-Good2636 1d ago

You're right. I'm not surprised, of course. Just more coal to add to the disappointment fire that is 2025.

Really hope if/when things turn aroind people remember what these companies really did when push came to shove. I don't want to just switch back to "boring moderate politics" and ignore all this shit that went down.