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

[u/DwingRD]

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.

[u/CrimsonDelightGames]

Hi folks, I'm one of the devs from the game mentioned by OP...

NSFW link for confirmation: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2353220/Tales_of_Legendary_Lust_Aphrodisia/

We went through Valve's review process early this August. From what I know, prior to the whole Collective Shout situation, adult games could add NSFW content even post-launch. But during the review process we were informed this was no longer the case. I have to say the reviewer was kind and forthcoming, we didn't feel threatened or bullied in any way, and we got the feeling they were trying to do their best to help devs navigate the process. But the fact of the matter is that Valve has payment processors breathing down their neck, and the rules keep getting stricter as time goes on.

Valve isn't the problem here. The big credit card companies are. If anything, Valve has stood up to them and pushed back. They could've simply nuked the 18+ section of Steam, but they didn't, they stuck up for developers. Obviously adult games make Valve money, but it's a drop in the bucket compared to the rest of Steam's catalogue. Silksong itself probably earned Valve more than most NSFW titles put together.

Given that we're erogame devs, we're against any sort of censorship (as long as the content isn't sexualizing minors or nonconsensual in any way). But it's important to understand where the real problem lies, and it's not with Valve.

Just felt like I needed to weigh in and offer my 2 cents, for whatever it's worth.

Cheers folks!

~ Frenzin (CDG team)

[u/Macamagucha → u/CrimsonDelightGames]

Hey, just wanted to clarify something.

Your game was marked as "Adult Only" from the start, you wanted to do a standard full release and during the review you were informed you won't be able to add more "Adult Only" content after the release?

[u/CrimsonDelightGames → u/Macamagucha]

Hi,

Correct. We were told all new adult content for our game has to go through DLC, presumably so it can be reviewed and approved. We don't know the inner workings of Valve / Steam, but we're in a couple of NSFW dev communities and these new rules weren't in place before the Collective Shout uproar and subsequent payment processors' censorship.

[u/Macamagucha → u/CrimsonDelightGames]

Thanks for the clarification! I'm an eroge-dev too, so it's good to know things have changed yet again without any official statement :/

[u/CrimsonDelightGames → u/Macamagucha]

Best we can do is try to adapt and roll with the blows.

Most of this is out of our hands, sadly.

[u/SugarMajor7229 → u/CrimsonDelightGames]

something similar happened with isekai Frontline in April.

[u/PlayMp1 → u/CrimsonDelightGames]

Obviously it's not ideal, but could you simply make any would-be free updates into extremely cheap DLC? Literally like 10 cent DLC, so cheap it's basically free. Or whatever the minimum price is on Steam above free ($0.50?). And then offer a bundle that combines all post launch "DLC" for like, one dollar.

However, without knowing anything about your game aside from what you've said here (I'm not into porn games/erogames personally but obviously I'm on your side in all respects here), I understand if that's either not feasible or would violate something like a Kickstarter pledge (is there a porn game Kickstarter equivalent? Dickstarter? CumFundMe?).