A new petition protesting the growing influence of payment processors over digital content on Steam has gained massive traction, surpassing 30,000 signatures in less than a week. The campaign comes in response to Valve’s updated publishing guidelines, which have led to the removal of nearly 100 adult-themed games from the platform.
Steam’s Policy Update and the Fallout
On July 16, Valve quietly updated its Steam publishing rules to align with the content policies of major payment processors such as Visa, MasterCard, and PayPal. These companies often maintain restrictive guidelines, particularly around adult and sexual content. The result was swift: dozens of adult games were delisted from the Steam store, prompting immediate outrage across gaming communities.
The backlash gave rise to a Change.org petition launched by user Zero Ryoko on July 17. The petition calls out what it describes as the censorship of legal fictional content and demands that companies like Visa and MasterCard cease their influence over what games can be sold on digital storefronts. It also targets activist groups like Collective Shout, which have reportedly lobbied for such content restrictions.
A Rapidly Growing Movement
The petition reached 10,000 signatures in its first four days and then doubled that figure within just two more. By the time of this article’s writing, the count had already climbed past 30,000, with several hundred new signatures being added every hour.
Despite the growing support, there’s no guarantee that this petition will result in meaningful changes. Change.org petitions do not carry legal force, and neither Steam nor its financial partners are obligated to act on them. However, widespread attention can bring pressure through other means — including reputational risk, declining user trust, and shareholder scrutiny.
So far, neither Valve nor any of its payment processing partners have issued public statements regarding the petition or the backlash surrounding the recent policy change.
A Broader Trend of Consumer Pushback
This isn’t the only grassroots movement gaining momentum in the gaming world. The Stop Killing Games petition — focused on preventing publishers from shutting down online services for live games — recently surpassed 1.4 million signatures across the EU. It emerged after Ubisoft permanently shut down servers for The Crew, despite owners having paid full price for the game.
Both campaigns reflect a growing dissatisfaction among gamers regarding the control corporations exert over digital products and content. Whether targeting censorship, server shutdowns, or digital ownership rights, these petitions signal a shift in how gaming communities are fighting back — not just with words, but with collective action.
As for the petition against censorship on Steam, it remains to be seen whether the rising signature count will be enough to force a reevaluation of the current policies. But if one thing is clear, it’s that a significant portion of the gaming community is unwilling to remain silent.
