Valve’s Steam platform has introduced mandatory age verification for UK users, requiring credit card details to confirm eligibility for access to its store and features containing mature content.
The change, effective from Aug. 29, follows the UK’s Online Safety Act, which seeks to reduce children’s exposure to harmful or age-inappropriate material. Social media users first flagged the update after spotting new information added to Steam’s FAQ section.
Ofcom, the communications regulator overseeing online safety, has advised that credit card checks represent one of the most reliable methods of verifying age. Steam’s support page explained: “In the UK, Ofcom is the independent regulator for online safety. Ofcom’s guidance on the OSA states that one highly effective age assurance measure is credit card checks.”
Valve said it tested several verification systems before settling on credit card authentication, citing the balance between regulatory compliance and user privacy. The company stressed that all data is handled internally through its PCI-DSS certified payment network, with no external access to user information.
While the new system currently applies only to UK-based accounts, analysts suggest it could signal a broader trend, with similar policies likely to surface in other jurisdictions facing pressure to strengthen safeguards for younger audiences.
Source: Steam