Steam UK users will now need a credit card to access mature content due to the Online Safety Act

Replace 29/08/25 – 16:59 UTC: since there’s reviews of it nonetheless working even with a Debit Card and never only a Credit score Card (they’re completely different within the UK), I’ve requested Valve if they’ve any feedback on this. Since within the UK, even a preteen can get a Debit Card.

Replace #2 – 19:33 UTC – Valve press replied to GamingOnLinux to substantiate permitting Debit Playing cards for verification was a bug, which has now been solved.

Valve just lately put up a brand new assist web page, detailing the steps they’ve taken to adjust to the UK On-line Security Act.

The UK On-line Security Act has a quite broad scope, and has been the reason for many adjustments not only for UK residents however folks worldwide as an increasing number of web sites realise they’re in scope of the act and must make adjustments. It covers all kinds of factor from porn to group boards and extra. And sure, that even consists of video video games too (which many builders seemingly aren’t even conscious of). If a online game has consumer to consumer communication (voice / textual content chat) and it is accessible within the UK, the developer might want to adjust to it.

The likes of Reddit, Bluesky, Discord, Xbox and extra have already rolled out verification programs.

To adjust to it, Valve will now be requiring customers from the UK to have a legitimate bank card saved on their account. Valve will do a direct verify (that prices £0 to customers) utilizing their very own inside cost processing system “which is independently licensed beneath the PCI-DSS normal”.

Should you do not do that you will not be capable to entry “Steam retailer pages for mature content material video games in addition to their related group hubs”.

Within the UK, you must be not less than 18 to have a bank card, so this fashion does make a variety of sense – as you may already be age verified in case you have a bank card in your title. Valve moreover say that “Having the bank card saved as a cost technique acts as an extra deterrent in opposition to circumventing age verification by sharing a single Steam consumer account amongst a number of individuals”.

Valve really feel this fashion “preserves the utmost diploma of consumer privateness” as the information they’ll course of throughout that is no completely different to easily making a purchase order on Steam. It is also solely required if you happen to’ve particularly opted into seeing mature content material on Steam.

Supply: Valve

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.