Valve faces allegations of removing an LGBTQ+ game from its Steam platform at the request of the Russian government

Flick Solitarie's Drag Deck design. — Image credit: Flick Games

According to reports, Valve, a major player in the PC gaming industry, has been involved in content censorship on its Steam platform in response to directives from the Russian government.

An article from the Video Games Industry Memo detailed how the Russian media watchdog, Roskomnadzor, requested the removal of the game Flick Solitaire due to its LGBTQ+-themed content.

Roskomnadzor issued orders to Flick to take down the game from the App Store, Google Play, and Steam, citing that designs featuring LGBTQ+ artwork violated a law from 2006 concerning "non-traditional sexualities." The VGIM noted that this demand misleadingly equated LGBTQ+ content with inappropriate themes. Apple and Google reportedly chose not to comply with this request, while Valve opted to remove the game from the Russian Steam.

Valve justified its decision by stating Flick Games breached Steam's policy, which mandates compliance with local laws. The company claimed Flick Games had assured Valve of its legal adherence under the Steam Distribution Agreement.

Valve has not yet responded to queries from VGIM. Similarly, GamesIndustry.biz is awaiting a response from Valve and will provide updates if any are received.

Flick Solitaire has been on Russian digital stores since 2020, but it wasn't until its launch on Steam in October 2025 that it caught the eye of Russian authorities. Russia represented the game's second-largest user base, as noted by Flick Games.

Ian Masters, founder of Flick Games, emphasized the critical nature of platforms like Valve in safeguarding LGBTQ+ content. He stated, "This isn't about 'wokeness,' but about basic human rights and equality." Masters urged for transparency from Steam regarding free speech issues related to LGBTQ+ matters.

Valve's content moderation practices have faced scrutiny before. In 2018, the company declared an open content policy, barring only illegal or explicitly trolling content.

In 2025, the UK government criticized Valve for hosting the controversial game No Mercy, known for explicit and non-consensual content. Although Valve did not remove the game, it was eventually taken down by the developer. More recently, Valve was critiqued for blocking the release of the horror game Horses by Italian developer Santa Ragione, a move that the studio has indicated might jeopardize its future.