Mastercard released a statement in response to the recent backlash over a crackdown on games with adult content, denying allegations of evaluating games or imposing restrictions on game creator sites. The company emphasized the need for merchants to have controls to prevent the use of Mastercard cards for unlawful purchases, including illegal adult content.
This development came after advocacy group Collective Shout penned an open letter to PayPal, Mastercard, Visa, and others, condemning the sale of games like “No Mercy” depicting sensitive topics. Subsequently, Steam and Itch.io announced measures to address content violations, leading to a discussion about the role of payment processors in regulating game marketplaces.
Valve, the owner of Steam, responded to Mastercard’s statement, revealing that the communication was indirect through payment processors and acquiring banks. Valve highlighted its policy of distributing legally compliant games but faced pushback from payment processors citing risks to the Mastercard brand and referencing rules against damaging transactions.
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In the midst of these developments, Itch.io announced plans to re-index free games with adult content while engaging in discussions with payment processors like Stripe, which cited limitations due to banking partners’ policies on supporting sexually explicit material.
