Accessing mature-rated games on Steam in the UK now requires more than just a simple age prompt. Steam users must verify their age with a credit card to comply with the UK’s Online Safety Act. This means anyone wanting to play or even view community hubs for mature content will need to have a valid credit card linked to their Steam account. For players wondering why this change is happening, it’s part of stricter online regulations designed to protect younger users while still giving adults access to the content they want.
Valve’s approach to age verification on Steam is different from other platforms. Instead of using selfies or ID uploads, Steam relies on credit cards as proof of age. Since only those 18 or older can obtain a credit card in the UK, this method ensures compliance without asking users to share personal identification documents. According to Steam, storing a credit card also acts as a safeguard against multiple users sharing one account to bypass restrictions.
For many UK gamers, this change may feel restrictive, especially for those without access to a credit card. Debit cards, prepaid options, or other payment methods will not work for age verification. As a result, players under 18 or those who simply don’t own a credit card will lose access to entire sections of Steam, including community hubs for mature titles. This shift hands responsibility for age checks to banks, making the process less about Steam monitoring users and more about financial institutions verifying eligibility.
If you’re a Steam user in the UK, the only way to continue accessing mature content is to add a valid credit card to your account. For younger players, this could mean waiting until they are old enough to obtain one. For adults without a credit card, applying for one through a bank may be the only solution. While this move might frustrate some, Valve emphasizes that the policy is designed to prioritize user privacy by avoiding direct collection of personal data.
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