Age verification for Steam has now been implemented in the UK, meaning that players will need to verify their ages if they want to access the platform’s mature content.
In light of the UK Online Safety Act, which imposes more stringent guidelines concerning anything with an age rating, Valve has deployed this reinvented guideline. That means that anyone located in the UK who wants to view a Steam page listed as “mature” will have to go through pre-existing Steam age verification.
While other platforms build processes around AI-driven tools, Valve is taking a far more straightforward approach that also respects user privacy, resorting instead to age verification via credit card. This is directly related to UK law because you won’t be issued a credit card unless you’re over the age of 18.
This method has two advantages, according to Valve’s support page: it establishes that the player is an adult of legal age, and it provides a privacy protection by not exposing sensitive data without a need. The Steam age verification check simply treats the same information already passed-through when purchasing or storing payment details on Steam.
According to VGC, the requirement went quietly live last Friday. Players with a credit card already on file for their Steam account might not have noticed the change, however, as they are immediately in compliance.
So, Why Is Valve Making Steam Age Verification?
Ofcom oversees online safety in the UK and has just suggested credit card checks as the most effective means of compliance with the Online Safety Act. This is really just Valve trying to abide with government guidelines found in many jurisdictions but not unnecessarily killing the experience for the adults that already use the site.
I wondered how Steam age verification even functions.
The process is straightforward:
- Anyone trying to access a Steam page with a mature rating needs to enter valid credit card information.
- As Steam explains, the card is linked to an over-18 account holder.
- After this has been verified, the user can then browse and purchase mature games, without having to perform this check again.
Currently, this change only applies to UK users, but experts believe such steps could broaden to the EU as regional regulators continue to demand tougher online safety regulations.
Other Platforms Following Suit
As was pointed out in the comments, Valve isn’t the only company to use this kind of verification. As confirmed by Nexus Mods, it will be implementing its own system soon too, while Rockstar’s GTA Online will likely be receiving similar protections as well. If this trend continues, Steam age verification might be just the tip of the iceberg for an industry-wide pivot to an age check based on whether or not you have a credit card.
FAQ
It involves users in the UK confirming they are 18+ when accessing mature content using valid credit card details — a kind of Steam age verification.
Steam age verification was implemented through Valve as part of legislation in the UK called the Online Safety Act, which requires tighter procedures for accessing age-restricted online content.
At the moment, the Steam age verification is only available to users in the UK. For those outside of the UK, though, players can still enjoy the same mature content as before.
Yes. It utilizes the same secure data handling as Steam’s purchasing system, which means no additional data is shared with third parties.
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