A wave of removals hit the Steam Store, recently, as Valve revealed certain types of video games would no longer be sold on their storefront. A glance at SteamDB shows that the affected games are of a very particular variety featuring adult content. Valve issued a statement on the delistings, explaining that they were due to potential violations with "payment processors", and in order to continue taking payments for non-adult content, they would be removing those title that do not meet "rules and standards" put forth by companies such as Mastercard, PayPal, etc.

We were recently notified that certain games on Steam may violate the rules and standards set forth by our payment processors and their related card networks and banks. As a result, we are retiring those games from being sold on the Steam Store, because loss of payment methods would prevent customers from being able to purchase other titles and game content on Steam.

We are directly notifying developers of these games, and issuing app credits should they have another game they’d like to distribute on Steam in the future.

While all of the affected games are of a controversial variety, it has unnerved some, as the newly implemented "rules and standards" that led to the delisting of these titles is vague.

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.

Source

 

[Lumpofcoal]

Apparently, an Australia based activist group "collective shout" is behind this. And there was past news about GTA being removed from sale in Australia. I wouldn't be surprised if the women who initiated the petition for GTA were from "collective shout" as well, especially given that the group seemed to have taken credit for its removal at that time (see the following link)

https://www.collectiveshout.org/win_target_and_kmart_remove_r18_game_from_stores

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-30328314

Two Australian retail chains have removed video game Grand Theft Auto V from sale in its stores, following complaints about the depiction of violence towards women.

"It's a game that encourages players to murder women for entertainment. The incentive is to commit sexual violence against women, then abuse or kill them to proceed or get 'health' points," the petition reads.

"To see this violence that we lived through turned into a form of entertainment is sickening and causes us great pain and harm."

It goes on to say that games like GTA 5 are "grooming yet another generation of boys to tolerate violence against women".

Now, if they want do to it just for Australia, fine. But with due respect, them Aussie women shouldn't be speaking for the rest of the world. Steam could very well have restricted those "questionable" games from sale in Australia. There was absolutely no need to do so for other regions.

 

[kingaz]

The organization behind this is not exclusively Christian. But even if it was that's still no reason to stereotype and criticize all Christians, or even just all Puritans. The vast majority of people who identity as Christians don't do this sort of stuff.

If I said "I hate Jews because they're greedy" and then gave an example of a single greedy Jew everyone would still rightly call that statement bigoted.

Leave it to the Christians with a victim complex to take antisemitism and make it about themselves.

Seriously, if you see "Puritan" and feel called out, then guess what? You're the exact type of Christian who takes their hangups and makes them everyone else's problem, rather than doing anything put forth by Jesus Christ.

 

[SecureBoot]

How did this devolve into a thread against America and Christians?

A shitty thing happened. Why don't we focus on that instead?

 

[kingaz]

How did this devolve into a thread against America and Christians?

A shitty thing happened. Why don't we focus on that instead?

Christians are behind this, dumping on America is categorically correct, and nothing of value was actually lost yet.

 

[SecureBoot]

Christians are behind this, dumping on America is categorically correct, and nothing of value was actually lost yet.

Their about page says nothing about a Christian message. Even if the individuals are Christian, they do not speak for or on behalf of us. If they did, it would be in their about page.

 

[Xzi]

How did this devolve into a thread against America and Christians?

A shitty thing happened. Why don't we focus on that instead?

Collective Shout is an Australian religious activist group which allied with the US evangelical church to push for this censorship. They've previously targeted popular (non-pornographic) games with outlandish claims about their content as well.

Vice News wrote a good article on the topic, which has ironically since been removed/censored itself. Archived link here: https://web.archive.org/web/2025071...argeted-popular-games-with-outlandish-claims/

 

[kingaz]

Their about page says nothing about a Christian message. Even if the individuals are Christian, they do not speak for or on behalf of us. If they did, it would be in their about page.

Making a lot of assumptions there.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melinda_Tankard_Reist

If it walks like a fundie org and talks like a fundie org...

 

[SecureBoot]

Making a lot of assumptions there.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melinda_Tankard_Reist

If it walks like a fundie org and talks like a fundie org...

Assumptions where? If she's a Christian, praise God, but as a Christian involved in a few charitable organizations not affiliated with the church, you have to be very careful on how you present yourself to not conflate your work with the church's work so people on the outside looking in don't get the wrong idea about either the organization or the church

 

[kingaz]

Assumptions where? If she's a Christian, praise God, but as a Christian involved in a few charitable organizations not affiliated with the church, you have to be very careful on how you present yourself to not conflate your work with the church's work so people on the outside looking in don't get the wrong idea about either the organization or the church

Lol. Lmao even.

 

[SecureBoot]

Lol. Lmao even.

What's the point here? I'm not talking about pregnancy centers. Those often are run and funded by Christian groups because that's the generally accepted biblical stance on that specific debate.

I'm talking about like homeless shelters and food pantries and after school activities and stuff like that.

And yes, you can pull up plenty examples of those things that are Christian run and Christian based so I'll spare you the googling, but the mission behind those is usually some form of evangelism.

If you are a Christian and trying to start up or take a leadership role in one of those aforementioned community services and aren't intentionally using it as an evangelism tool, you want to be very careful about how you frame and phrase your mission.

Regardless, I haven't done much research outside of what you have sent me and the website of this specific organization. Could I be wrong about them in particular? Sure. With how adamant you and others are being on this point, I'm willing to admit I probably am. It just seems unjust to lump in an entire people group, whether that be based on religion, country of residence, race, sexuality, or some other categorization based on a subset of those people

 

[kingaz]

What's the point here?

It's a counter-example to your assertion of Christians needing to be "very careful on how you present yourself to not conflate your work with the church's work so people on the outside looking in don't get the wrong idea about either the organization or the church." This entire premise is absurd on its face.

It just seems unjust to lump in an entire people group, whether that be based on religion, country of residence, race, sexuality, or some other categorization based on a subset of those people

Except that's not what's happening here. We're talking about a group of people unified by behavior and deed and assigning responsibility for actions where it belongs.

It seems pretty simple: if you don't want to be judged like a fundamentalist, don't be a fundamentalist.

 

[MPRTwice]

They are de-listing adult games? Uh-oh; where can I buy PC building simulator and DCS world now? The adults who enjoy those kinds of flight school and business simulator games fit for professional careers are going to be stuck with Freddie Fish games now, aren't they?

 

[SecureBoot]

It's a counter-example to your assertion of Christians needing to be "very careful on how you present yourself to not conflate your work with the church's work so people on the outside looking in don't get the wrong idea about either the organization or the church." This entire premise is absurd on its face.



Except that's not what's happening here. We're talking about a group of people unified by behavior and deed and assigning responsibility for actions where it belongs.

It seems pretty simple: if you don't want to be judged like a fundamentalist, don't be a fundamentalist.

Christians are not unified by behavior or deed. They aren't a group of people who act the same. They are unified by a belief that there is one Holy God who sent his son as atonement for sin.

I am a fundamentalist, but why should I be judged if I am not imposing fundamentalism on anyone else? I mean, I recognize that the term has negative connotation, but Christian fundamentalism is based off of 5 core fundamentals, none of which are really radical or offensive. I guess can see a case for the infallibility of scripture being offensive, but I, and most others are not forcing that on people.

It's a losing battle isn't it. I don't anticipate changing your mind. That's not really what I set out to do either. Realistically, I get upset when my people are diminished, disrespected, or otherwise treated poorly. It's my nature to stand up and speak in my/their defense but the gift of hindsight tells me this wasn't the time nor place. I'll let you say/think what you will about me. I will not try to defend any further. I apologize for letting my emotions run high and cause me to pick a fight.

 

[MPRTwice]

There is a reason I made a joke about this. We have been through this before: don't worry about politics. I don't care either way. The same as I did not care if a semi crushed my car and killed me today or not when it was in my lane and the driver was not paying attention as I had no room to maneuver; refusing to worry leads to Victory.

I don't care if someone says they are Christian or not; Faith without works is dead. I just did a seminar today where I intentionally sounded less impressive than a McDojo leader (but said otherwise the exact same things) followed by casually picking apart MMA fighters loaded on drugs; you want me to be pleased? Make your words count.

I back up what I say: I sparred the supreme commander of the South Korean Military many times, eventually winning after many wonderful one-hit defeats at his hands:

 

[Deleted member 753700]

It goes on to say that games like GTA 5 are "grooming yet another generation of boys to tolerate violence against women".

So it’s less about censorship and more about protecting those who are impressionable from seeing violence against women as normal.

 

[nmagod]

I'm not for or against it in particular but I do wonder if double standards are being involved here.

AFAIK, there are still plenty of porn sites (actual human porn and not cartoon ones) that use those payment processors and they don't seem to have any issue with them.

So they only go after those that are high profile but happily continue to do business with those that keep it on the low?

On a more concerning note, this might be a way for interest groups to censor gaming platforms indirectly. Who knows one day the likes of GTA could no longer be sold due to concerns about "gratuitous violence" from PTA groups complaining to mastercard/visa/etc.

the Lupe Fuentes case still haunts a lot of corporate lawyers

 

[Viri]

I will play my murder and crime simulator(gta w/e) and there is nothing these people can do to stop me! Every time they complain, I will run over another female in GTA!

 

[Captain-Z]

Leave it to the Christians with a victim complex to take antisemitism and make it about themselves.

Seriously, if you see "Puritan" and feel called out, then guess what? You're the exact type of Christian who takes their hangups and makes them everyone else's problem, rather than doing anything put forth by Jesus Christ.

Huh? I'm not Puritan lol. I just call out bigotry when I see it. Where did you victim complex and hangups from? lol

 

[doorbell8423]

.

 

[Eightcoins]

The same group that shouted for this have platformed TERFs before. I don't think anyone in Collective Shout cares about women when they don't even support the rights of all women - and see no issue with people that actively want to remove the rights of some women. Cis women usually are the next in line to lose their rights too afterwards thanks to those groups (Cis women that don't fit 16th century femininity standards already are facing harrassment in England thanks to TERFS lobbying themselves into parlament). What amazing "feminism".

Also no real feminist would be checkedmarked on Twitter actively funding a known rich misogonyst with multiple SA allegations monthly like Collective Shout is.