this post was submitted on 16 Sep 2026
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Steam Age Check Locks Out 65% of Adult Australians [2026] (tech-insider.org)
submitted 6 days ago by eremophila@lemmy.zip to c/australia@aussie.zone
68 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

"Steam started blocking Australian users from viewing or buying 18+ rated games on September 9, 2026, unless they attach a valid credit card to their account. Valve’s rollout affects hundreds of mature-rated titles, including Cyberpunk 2077 and Doom Eternal, and it doesn’t matter whether the account is brand new or fifteen years old with a library full of paid-for adult games. Without a credit card on file, those store pages, search results, and even home-page recommendations simply disappear."

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[–] shirro@aussie.zone 6 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (1 children)

I won't be getting a credit card. Hard no. Not ever. My bank knows exactly how old I am. I am ok with an over 18 boolean passing over the merchant transaction. I already have a three way relationship with valve and my bank.

I don't even have a meta account and can't see local food menus, community events, kids sports or school info. It has taken over everything even the used market. If I can live with that then no way I am going to cave to some orwellian age verification bullshit just to play a game. I can live without.

Gabe knows piracy is a service problem, not a pricing problem. Valve would be very aware that broken age verification damages their service and what the consequences will be. I am sure if they had a good legal alternative they would have gone with it.

[–] eremophila@lemmy.zip 2 points 5 days ago

There is always emulation

Social media definitely isn't something I would ever provide id for