New Australian Laws Force Steam to Require Credit Cards for Age Verification
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
Valve now requires Australian Steam users to link a credit card to verify they are over 18 for R18+ games, shutting out debit cards and alternative payment methods despite declining credit card usage among young adults.
Valve has rolled out a strict new proof-of-age verification system for Steam users in Australia, complying with local regulations that require platforms to verify players are over 18 before accessing R18+ titles. While platforms like PlayStation and Xbox offer multiple verification pathways, Valve has chosen a restrictive approach. Australian users now need an active credit card linked to their account to unlock mature content pages. Debit cards, PayPal, and even the historical age of a long-standing account are not accepted as valid proof.
This rollout creates a major hurdle for adult gamers, especially given shifting financial habits. Credit card ownership in Australia has dropped significantly over the past decade, with only about half of consumers holding one. Among young adults aged 18 to 24, that number plummets to roughly a quarter. Forcing players to maintain an active credit card just to view store pages ignores modern payment methods, where digital wallets and debit options are far more common.
As reported by IGN, the requirement even demands that the credit card remain active on the account regardless of whether purchases are made with it. For a platform with deep data on how players actually pay for games, implementing such a rigid system feels remarkably out of touch. Valve may need to expand its verification options soon if it wants to keep the Australian storefront accessible to its full adult player base.
Tags: Steam, PC Gaming, Industry News, Regulation
Original article: IGN South Africa