STEAM, the convenient provider of digital games in the 21st century, has always been at the forefront of anime and digital games in general.
Even some of the more “steamy” games (pun intended), such as ecchi, lewd, or even hentai, have been available on Steam for a good while, birthing memes about it.
But all that is about to change to some degree.
According to Gamespark, a Japanese website, Steam has silently updated its TOS, which includes new rules surrounding hentai and ecchi games, or any game that payment processors deem “unacceptable”.
TRANSLATED QUOTE:
What you shouldn’t publish on Steam:
“15. Content that may violate the rules and standards set forth by Steam’s payment processors and related card networks and banks, or internet network providers. In particular, certain kinds of adult only content.”
According to automation media, which also covered the topic:
“Prior to the update, the list included 14 clauses, prohibiting things like hate speech, malware, sexual content depicting real people and any form of exploitation of children. The new 15th clause suggests that Steam may additionally have to crack down on specific types of adult content in response to the requirements of payment processors and banks.”
This is followed by an official update from Steam’s database about what’s happening:
Update (2025/07/15 at 18:30 JST): “According to SteamDB, a large number of games has been removed from the platform in the past 16 hours. Judging from the list, it appears “sex simulator” type games with keywords such as “incest” and “slavery” make up the majority. There are some confusing cases like the removal of the Ace Attorney-inspired investigation game Trails of Innocence, although this could be a coincidental deletion.”
This follows a trend set by payment processors like Mastercard and Visa that have seen many websites and games, including those in Japan, be censored, limited, or removed entirely at the swing of Visa and Mastercard’s iron fist.
DL Site is one big name that has been under fire and attack from these payment processors, and it has continued not just since 2024, but even before that date.
It seems “Collective shout” is one of the many things behind this.
A radical feminist organization that wants to end the “objectification” of women in video games.
You also have others like morality in media doing similar bs, but Collective shout are the ones openly doing this https://t.co/IMD28K6J8W pic.twitter.com/biUJljigfV— Shizu (@BepDelta) July 16, 2025
According to a Tweet with sources:
“It seems “Collective shout” is one of the many things behind this. A radical feminist organization that wants to end the “objectification” of women in video games. You also have others like morality in media doing similar bs, but Collective shout are the ones openly doing this.”
There’s no telling if these “requests” being made are legitimately about rape, incest, or “child abuse” materials, or whether this is being used as the scapegoat to simply BAN all anime-related media entirely.
This statement is based on history and how scapegoats within the anime industry (usually the minority of its content) are used as a proxy to achieve the real goal, if you wanna put it like that.
Especially since western porn, which depicts real women and often exploits real teenagers, is never targeted by these groups, and they stay suspiciously silent by contrast.
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Based on Steam’s decision, this doesn’t mean these games will go away completely, but it does mean many developers will see their games, especially games that are legitimate (meaning they’re not suspect or truly in “violation”), disappear since Visa and Mastercard have it out for anime-style games in particular.
Usually without context or reason, or with double standards, as is typical with corporate and Western-minded companies.
Especially when it comes to the world of ANIME in particular.
Fan of dating sims? Then this is the adult anime game you’ll wanna try next.
Recommended:
17+ Of The Best Ecchi Anime Games You Should Consider Playing
