Valve's Adult Game Delisting: A Payment Processor's Grip
Valve's recent decision to remove certain adult games from Steam highlights the overreaching influence of payment processors like Mastercard. The company stated it had to act to avoid losing payment methods, which would impact all Steam sales. This situation raises concerns about censorship and the power of financial institutions over digital content. - The lack of transparency on which games were removed only adds to the frustration. - Valve's assertion of compliance feels like a defeat rather than a choice. While protecting customers is crucial, it shouldn't come at the cost of creative freedom. The precedent set here could lead to further restrictions on content deemed unacceptable by financial entities. Ultimately, it begs the question: who really controls what we can access online?