Mastercard officially denied intervening in the recent wave of bans targeting adult-oriented video games on major platforms like Steam and Itch.io. Following widespread industry backlash, the payment giant released a statement on Friday refuting claims that it pressured marketplaces to restrict specific titles, despite contradictory accounts from Valve.
The Conflict: Mastercard vs. Valve
In a formal statement, Mastercard asserted that it has not audited individual games or mandated content restrictions on creator platforms. However, the company maintained its requirement that merchants implement controls to prevent the use of its cards for unlawful purchases, including illegal adult content.
Valve, the owner of Steam, provided a different perspective. According to the company, Mastercard avoided direct communication with them, instead funneling demands through payment processors and acquiring banks. Valve claims these intermediaries explicitly cited a Mastercard rule concerning “brand-damaging transactions” as the justification for demanding the removal of certain games.
Pressure from Advocacy Groups
The tension follows an open letter issued by the advocacy group Collective Shout. The organization targeted major financial institutions—including PayPal, Visa, and Mastercard—demanding they cease processing payments for games depicting sensitive content, such as sexual abuse and incest.
The impact of this pressure was immediate:
- Steam: Announced a policy to ban any content violating the rules of its payment processors and associated banking networks.
- Itch.io: Removed adult-content games from public search and browse pages to conduct a comprehensive audit.
The Ripple Effect on Developers
The fallout has created a complex environment for independent developers. While Itch.io is currently re-indexing free adult games, the platform remains in delicate negotiations with payment processors like Stripe. Stripe has previously stated it cannot support sexually explicit content, citing strict requirements from its own banking partners.
As the standoff continues, the discrepancy between Mastercard’s public stance and the operational requirements enforced by intermediaries highlights a growing divide between payment infrastructure providers and digital content marketplaces.