As Valve changes the way it handles adult content on Steam, it’s been revealed that games containing “mature themes” will no longer be accepted for Steam Early Access. The update comes as anti-porn lobbyists continue to put pressure on adult games, working through the payment processors that storefronts like Steam and Itch.io rely on.
Dammitbird, the developer behind adult action RPG Heavy Hearts, revealed on X that their game had been rejected from Early Access due to its adult themes. “Your app has failed our review because we’re unable to support the Early Access model of development for a game with mature themes,” the rejection message from Steam, as shared online by Dammitbird.
“Due to current events, I panicked and contacted my publisher to help me get on Steam Early Access,” Dammitbird said to GamesMarkt about their application. “The general rule is that your game should be about 65% done before doing EA. Well, we are about 70% done so the time was right anyway. But now, all of a sudden and without a policy announcement, the rules have changed and now I can’t join Steam EA.”