Steam requires credit card to access R18+ PC games in Australia, PC Gamer says

GG Brief Editorial Desk · AI-assisted, source attributed

PC Gamer reports that Valve's Steam now requires Australian users to provide a credit card to access or purchase R18+ PC games. The change is part of an age-verification step Valve implemented earlier this month, which PC Gamer says responds to Australian legal requirements. PC Gamer describes Valve's approach as a brute-force, user-negligent implementation and notes a Reserve Bank of Australia study showing many Australians do not use credit cards. PC Gamer's coverage also frames the situation as unique to Steam, saying other PC shopfronts generally allow R18+ purchases without a credit card.

• What happened: PC Gamer reports Valve implemented an age-verification measure that requires Australian Steam users to provide a credit card to view or buy R18+ store pages.
• Why it matters: PC Gamer says this method is a blunt, user-negligent response to an age-verification requirement and cites a Reserve Bank of Australia study showing many Australians do not use credit cards.
• Context: PC Gamer states the credit-card verification was implemented earlier this month as a response to Australian law and frames other PC storefronts as generally allowing R18+ purchases without a credit card.
• What next: PC Gamer does not report any confirmed change plans from Valve or an announced alternative verification method, so it is not confirmed whether Valve will modify the credit-card requirement.