Steam Age Check Locks Out Majority of Adult Australians

Steam's age verification system has been locked out for 65% of adult Australians since September 9, 2026. The system requires a valid credit card to be attached to an account to access mature-rated games. However, Reserve Bank of Australia payment behavior data shows that only around half of Australian adults have a credit card, making this method restrictive.

Valve's approach has been criticized for being too narrow and not taking into account alternative methods of age verification. The company's system is based on the assumption that credit cards are almost exclusively issued to adults, while debit cards can be owned by minors in some banking products.

The backlash was immediate, with players finding workarounds to access mature-rated games using buy-now-pay-later cards and virtual card numbers. Australia's eSafety regulator has also engaged with Valve regarding the implementation of the App Code, which requires platforms to apply 'highly effective' age assurance methods.