Valve has adjusted its approach to adult content on Steam, announcing that games containing “mature themes” are now explicitly excluded from its Early Access program. This policy shift appears to be a direct response to increasing pressure from anti-porn advocacy groups, which have been targeting adult games through the vital payment processors utilized by digital storefronts like Steam and Itch.io.
Dammitbird, the developer behind the adult action RPG *Heavy Hearts*, recently revealed on X (formerly Twitter) that their game`s application for Early Access had been rejected due to its adult themes. Dammitbird shared Steam`s official rejection message, which stated: “Your app has failed our review because we`re unable to support the Early Access model of development for a game with mature themes.”
Speaking to GamesMarkt about their application, Dammitbird elaborated on the situation: “Due to current events, I panicked and contacted my publisher to help me get on Steam Early Access.” They noted that *Heavy Hearts* was approximately 70% complete, comfortably exceeding the typical 65% completion guideline for Early Access. However, Dammitbird expressed frustration, stating, “But now, all of a sudden and without a policy announcement, the rules have changed and now I can`t join Steam EA.”
*Heavy Hearts*, which combines traditional RPG gameplay with explicit sexual content, had previously faced similar challenges. Earlier this year, it was affected by Itch.io`s broader removal of adult games. Dammitbird clarified that while *Heavy Hearts* remains listed on Itch.io, it is “de-indexed,” meaning it is no longer discoverable through the platform`s search function, although a free demo page is still accessible. Itch.io previously accounted for a significant 50% of the game`s revenue, which was crucial for paying artists and other collaborators. While Patreon and Subscribestar currently provide some financial stability, Dammitbird fears this support will prove insufficient in the long term.
Dammitbird further noted that Patreon has become the most reliable source of support for *Heavy Hearts*. However, they also acknowledged Patreon`s inconsistent history with adult content creators, which leaves them vulnerable to potential deplatforming on that service as well.
This situation has drawn criticism from both players and developers, including the International Game Developers Association (IGDA), who have spoken out against what they perceive as arbitrary censorship of adult games. Critics highlight a troubling lack of transparency and clear guidelines in these processes. In response to similar pressures, Itch.io has been exploring its own solutions, including re-listing free NSFW content and actively seeking alternative payment processors capable of handling adult content transactions.