Mastercard has denied directly pressuring platforms like Steam and Itch.io to remove explicit titles. But Valve, the owner of Steam, paints a different picture—one where payment processors acted under Mastercard’s guidelines.
In recent weeks, indie game developers and players noticed a sharp decline in access to games featuring adult or controversial themes.
Steam, one of the world’s largest digital game distributors, quietly updated its content moderation approach. Itch.io, a smaller platform known for experimental content, followed suit by removing adult games from browse and search options.
Why are adult games disappearing from major platforms?
The sudden changes sparked concern about censorship, but deeper scrutiny pointed to pressure from payment processors and card networks.
Mastercard says it didn’t issue content bans
On Friday, Mastercard issued a brief public statement addressing the growing backlash. The company stated:
“Mastercard has not evaluated any game or required restrictions of any activity on game creator sites and platforms, contrary to media reports and allegations.”
However, the statement added that Mastercard expects merchants to ensure that its cards are not used for “unlawful purchases, including illegal adult content.”
This suggests that while Mastercard may not directly blacklist specific games, it sets compliance rules that platforms must adhere to in order to continue processing payments.
valve tells a different story
Valve, responding to PC Gamer and other outlets, acknowledged it hadn’t been contacted directly by Mastercard but said that third-party payment processors were acting based on Mastercard’s standards.
According to valve’s statement:
“Mastercard did not communicate with Valve directly, despite our request to do so. Instead, Mastercard communicated with payment processors and their acquiring banks.”
Valve says it explained its long-standing policy of distributing games that are legal under U.S. law. Yet, payment processors rejected Valve’s explanation, citing a “risk to the Mastercard brand” and internal rules against "illegal or brand-damaging transactions."
what’s happening at itch.io and stripe?
Itch.io also began pulling explicit games from visibility on its site, triggering backlash from indie developers. The platform clarified that it is currently reviewing its policies and re-indexing free adult games.
The move came as Itch.io entered talks with Stripe, a major online payment processor, which has also expressed concern over handling explicit content. Stripe cited constraints imposed by its banking partners, who do not support “sexually explicit material.”
what does this mean for indie game creators?
For many small developers, these changes signal a broader challenge: payment systems are quietly shaping what content gets to exist online. While Mastercard claims it didn’t directly order bans, its standards heavily influence what platforms and processors allow.
As the debate continues, platforms like Steam and Itch.io may need to find a delicate balance between payment compliance and creative freedom.
