Adult Content
Ongoing coverage on Adult Content.
Latest coverage
Steam reverses porn game rating it mistakenly gave to an indie vampire RPG, and despite the stress it was a 'net positive' overall as wishlists on Steam 'basically doubled overnight'
Valve has reversed its decision to give the upcoming RPG Nighthawks an adults-only rating, allowing it to be more visible on Steam. Publisher Wadjet Eye Games and developer Richard Cobbett expressed relief, noting the initial rating caused significant stress but ultimately led to a doubling of wishlists, which they consider a net positive despite the marketing boost being unintentional.
'Valve isn't interested in a nuanced conversation' says indie dev suffering from Steam censorship
Indie developer Robert Yang has detailed his struggles with Steam's content moderation policies, which have led to his games being hidden from most users due to their 'gay' nature and sexual content. Yang criticizes Valve for not engaging in nuanced conversations about content, contrasting it with the more permissive approach to sexual content in mainstream titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Baldur's Gate 3. This situation highlights the ongoing impact of censorship on indie creators, even after broader crackdowns on adult content have subsided.
"We have to have free human expression in some capacity": Patreon CEO shares frustrations about getting adult content past payment processors
Patreon CEO Jack Conte expressed frustration with payment processors like Stripe and Mastercard, who dictate policies on 'adult content' and threaten to withhold services. This pressure has led platforms like Steam and Itch.io to change their policies, impacting creators. Conte highlighted Patreon's efforts to build leverage through a 'hot-swappable payments architecture' to better support artists on the platform, while acknowledging the ongoing challenges in navigating these complex financial and content regulations.
Gabe Newell reportedly snapped 'What the f*** do I pay you for if that's your opinion?' at Valve lawyer pushing for more content moderation on Steam
Valve co-founder Gabe Newell reportedly admonished Valve general counsel Karl Quackenbush for advocating a stricter content moderation policy on Steam. The anecdote suggests Newell favors a more laissez-faire approach to NSFW content, which Steam has largely maintained despite occasional pressure from payment processors.
Kickstarter rolls back new mature content guidelines after week of backlash
Crowdfunding platform Kickstarter has reverted its new, more restrictive adult content guidelines after facing significant backlash from creators and users. The company cited pressure from its payment processor, Stripe, as the reason for the initial change, which banned content like "implied sex acts" and specific adult content terms. Kickstarter COO Sean Leow stated the company aims to regain user trust and continue supporting bold creative work.
Japanese game dev denied by bank with ties to western payment processors
Japanese game developer Mousou no Mayu reported that their domestic bank, Daishi Hokuetsu Bank, refused to process a payment from their publisher, Kagura Games, due to the game's content. The bank, which has significant investment from Blackrock, a major shareholder in Visa and Mastercard, cited concerns over adult content despite the Steam version being all-ages. The developer has since moved to Sumishin SBI Net Bank.
VanillaBeast: Mystery Kink Released
Vanilla Gaming has released their new comedy-horror adventure game, VanillaBeast: Mystery Kink, on Steam. The game features adult performers and is described as cheeky.
My Waifu’s Stream is Going Viral Combines Dating Sims with Streaming Fame
My Waifu’s Stream is Going Viral, a new indie game combining dating simulation with streaming management, has been released on Steam. The game tasks players with managing their girlfriend's streaming career, including upgrading equipment, choosing outfits, and interacting with chat, while also navigating the pressures on their relationship. The developers are offering free Steam keys to build an initial player base and are upfront about the game's mature content.
