Mastercard Denies Pressuring Game Platforms, Valve Tells a Different Story

Following recent marketplace crackdowns on games featuring adult content, ostensibly due to pressure from payment processors, Mastercard has issued a statement denying direct involvement in restricting such content on gaming platforms. 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, they added a crucial caveat: “At the same time, we require merchants to have appropriate controls to ensure Mastercard cards cannot be used for unlawful purchases, including illegal adult content.”

This public clarification comes after an open letter from advocacy group Collective Shout, which urged major payment companies including Mastercard, Visa, and PayPal to address the sale of games depicting controversial themes. In the weeks following this appeal, Steam, owned by Valve, announced it would ban games violating the rules of its “payment processors and related card networks and banks.” Subsequently, the independent game marketplace Itch.io stated it was removing games with adult content from its browse and search pages while conducting a broader review.

While Mastercard’s statement aimed to shift the narrative away from direct processor pressure, Valve, the owner of Steam, presented a contrasting account. In a statement provided to gaming news outlets, Valve asserted that Mastercard did not communicate directly with them, despite requests. Instead, Valve claims Mastercard communicated its directives to payment processors and their acquiring banks, who then relayed the requirements to Valve. According to Valve, their response outlining Steam’s existing policy since 2018 regarding the distribution of legal games was “rejected” by these payment processors. They cited “risk to the Mastercard brand” and a specific Mastercard rule against “illegal or brand-damaging transactions” as the reasons provided.

Meanwhile, Itch.io has indicated it is now re-indexing free games featuring adult content. The platform is actively negotiating with payment processors, including Stripe. Stripe, in turn, has explained its inability to support sexually explicit content, attributing this limitation to its “banking partners.” The situation highlights the complex interplay between financial service providers, platform policies, and content creators in the digital gaming landscape.