Valve has stopped allowing games with "mature themes" to be launched in early access mode

Reports have surfaced indicating that Valve now prohibits games featuring "mature themes" from being launched in its Early Access program.

According to information shared by Dammitbird and covered by GamesMarkt, the game Heavy Hearts did not pass Valve's review process recently. Valve stated it could not support the Early Access development model for a game with these themes, inviting the developer to reapply once the game is prepared for full release.

While Valve has not provided further details on the exclusion of such games from Early Access, it is believed this ties into recent policy shifts by platforms like Steam and itch.io, driven by scrutiny from payment companies and conservative campaigners aiming to regulate adult content.

Reflecting on the situation, the developer conveyed to GamesMarkt their concern over the abrupt policy shift that now excludes them from Steam Early Access, despite their game being approximately 70% complete, which typically qualified under previous guidelines.

Heavy Hearts remains available on itch.io, but it cannot be located through traditional search methods, as it has been removed from general visibility.

Promoting games on platforms such as X has become challenging due to suppression of content mentioning Patreon or similar sites. The developer noted that Patreon, once known for censoring adult games, is now a primary option, though risks of deplatforming persist.

GamesIndustry.biz is awaiting a comment from Valve for further clarification.

In July, itch.io removed visibility for all adult NSFW content following a letter from Collective Shout, demanding action against financial institutions enabling content they consider exploitative.

For a deeper dive into this topic, see our feature on Steam and itch.io's approach to managing adult content.