Valve have added a new rule to the Onboarding guide for game developers, noting that payment processors get a say in what stays on Steam.
Newly added rule is:
Content that may violate the rules and standards set forth by Steam’s payment processors and related card networks and banks, or internet network providers. In particular, certain kinds of adult only content.
Diff of the new terms https://github.com/SteamDatabase/SteamworksDocumentation/commit/fddd59b5395cc3c1c74574650dbf5784612d0521
:/ payment processors strike again (slippery slope etc)
No, they were not directly involved and no, pimping minors was not proven in court. Money laundering and conspiracy to facilitate prostitution were the charges that stuck. In fact, prosecutors claiming they were involved in child sex trafficking caused a mistrial https://apnews.com/article/business-trials-3b1c9d3e59e90cd60764b3eb989fec80
The point is not about what they did or didn’t do, it’s that if you try to go outside the system you get hammered.
Thanks for the correction.
I’m not comfortable with tech execs making bank off sex workers, but I should aim to be more familiar with the outcome of the case.