Danica Davidson
August 5, 2025 
There’s been a major backlash in response to the removal of legal NSFW video games at Steam and itch.io, with the game sites saying it was due to pressure from payment processors. Mastercard has since responded to the accusations that it was part of the censorship.
Here is their full statement:
Mastercard has not evaluated any game or required restrictions of any activity on game creator sites and platforms, contrary to media reports and allegations.
Our payment network follows standards based on the rule of law. Put simply, we allow all lawful purchases on our network. At the same time, we require merchants to have appropriate controls to ensure Mastercard cards cannot be used for unlawful purchases, including illegal adult content.
Stripe was specifically the payment processor that itch.io says refused to work with them if they had adult content, and both Visa and Mastercard are ways to buy through Stripe.
A spokesperson for Valve, which developed Steam, stated, “Mastercard did not communicate with Valve directly, despite our request to do so. Mastercard communicated with payment processors and their acquiring banks. Payment processors communicated this with Valve, and we replied by outlining Steam’s policy since 2018 of attempting to distribute games that are legal for distribution. Payment processors rejected this, and specifically cited Mastercard’s Rule 5.12.7 and risk to the Mastercard brand.”
PC Gamer linked to Mastercard’s rules, and here is the one in question:
A Merchant must not submit to its Acquirer, and a Customer must not submit to the
Interchange System, any Transaction that is illegal, or in the sole discretion of the Corporation,
may damage the goodwill of the Corporation or reflect negatively on the Marks.
The Corporation considers any of the following activities to be in violation of this Rule:
1. The sale or offer of sale of a product or service other than in full compliance with law then
applicable to the Acquirer, Issuer, Merchant, Cardholder, Cards, or the Corporation.
2. The sale of a product or service, including an image, which is patently offensive and lacks
serious artistic value (such as, by way of example and not limitation, images of
nonconsensual sexual behavior, sexual exploitation of a minor, nonconsensual mutilation of a
person or body part, and bestiality), or any other material that the Corporation deems
unacceptable to sell in connection with a Mark.An Acquirer that has been notified of a Merchant’s noncompliance with this Rule and that fails
promptly to cause the noncompliant practice to cease, or that has been notified multiple times
regarding violations of this Rule, is subject, at the Acquirer’s expense, and in addition to any
other noncompliance assessment or other discipline, or both, to any one or more of the
following:
1. Customer Franchise Review under the Franchise Management Program as described in the
Security Rules and Procedures manual.
2. An audit at the sole expense of the Acquirer by a third party selected by the Corporation, of
the Acquirer’s acquiring practices. The Corporation may list a Mastercard Merchant which
the Corporation determines is noncompliant with this Rule on the MATCH Pro system. (See
Chapter 11 of the Security Rules and Procedures manual.)In addition to or in lieu of any other disciplinary action by the Corporation, an Acquirer deemed
to be in violation of this Rule may be assessed, with respect to each Merchant, entity, affiliate,
agent, or person on whose behalf the Acquirer submits illegal or brand-damaging Transactions
into interchange:
• USD 200,000 or
• USD 2,500 per day, retroactive to the first day of the noncompliant practice, provided the
Acquirer can show clear and convincing evidence that such noncompliant practice began less
than 80 days prior to the date of the Corporation’s notification to the Acquirer.
Source: PC Gamer
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Danica Davidson is the author of the bestselling Manga Art for Beginners with artist Melanie Westin, plus its sequel, Manga Art for Everyone, and the first-of-its-kind manga chalk book Chalk Art Manga, both illustrated by professional Japanese mangaka Rena Saiya. Check out her other comics and books at www.danicadavidson.com.
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