Mastercard denies pressuring game platforms, Valve tells a different story

In a growing controversy surrounding the recent crackdown on adult content in video games, Mastercard has issued a statement rejecting claims that it pressured gaming platforms to enforce stringent restrictions. The company clarified, "Mastercard has not evaluated any game or mandated limitations on activities within game creator sites and platforms, contrary to various media reports and allegations." They emphasized their requirement for merchants to implement sufficient controls to prevent the use of Mastercard cards for illegal purchases, including unlawful adult content. This statement follows an open letter from the advocacy group Collective Shout, which condemned payment companies like Paypal, Mastercard, and Visa for permitting the sale of controversial games such as "No Mercy," which include depictions of severe sexual violence. In response to these concerns, Steam announced plans to prohibit games that breach the policies of its payment processors, while Itch.io indicated it would remove adult content from its browsing and searching features as part of a more extensive review. Despite Mastercard's denial of direct involvement, Valve, the owner of Steam, provided its own account of the situation to PC Gamer and other outlets. Valve stated, "Mastercard did not communicate with us directly, even after our requests. Instead, they interacted with payment processors and their acquiring banks, who then relayed the information to us." Valve maintained that it has consistently aimed to distribute games that adhere to legal standards since 2018. However, their proposals were reportedly dismissed by the payment processors, who highlighted potential risks to the Mastercard brand and referenced its policies against illegal or reputationally damaging transactions. Meanwhile, Itch.io announced that it is re-indexing its free games featuring adult content while engaging in discussions with payment processors, including Stripe. Stripe has also indicated its inability to support sexually explicit material due to restrictions from its banking partners.