Short version: in July 2025 Steam changed its rules under pressure on its payment providers and removed hundreds of adult games. itch.io followed by hiding all adult content. The games mostly still exist, but buying them now means knowing where each developer sells.
Timeline
- Early July 2025: an advocacy campaign targets Visa, Mastercard and the payment companies behind major game stores, asking them to stop processing payments for certain adult games.
- Mid-July 2025: Steam adds a rule against content "that may violate the rules and standards set forth by Steam's payment processors" and removes several hundred adult titles.
- July 24, 2025: itch.io deindexes all adult content from browse and search while it reviews its catalogue.
- End of July 2025: itch.io re-indexes free adult games. Paid adult games return slowly.
- Since then: creators move sales to Patreon, SubscribeStar, DLsite and adult-focused stores.
Why payment processors matter so much
Stores like Steam and itch.io process payments for every game they sell through the same providers. If a provider objects to one category, the store has to choose between that category and everything else. For a general-purpose store, adult games lose that trade-off every time.
Stores built specifically for adult content work with payment providers that accept the category openly, under strict rules: verified creators, human review of every title, and no prohibited themes. It's more work and costs more, but the category can't be switched off overnight.
What it means for players
- Back up every adult game you own, DRM-free if possible.
- Follow the developers you like directly (X, Bluesky, Discord, newsletter).
- Buy from stores whose whole business is adult games, not stores that tolerate them.
See also: where to buy adult games after the itch.io delisting.
FAQ
Why did Steam remove adult games in 2025?
In July 2025 Steam added a rule against content that may violate the rules of its payment processors and card networks, after an advocacy campaign targeted those companies. Several hundred adult titles were removed in the following days.
Are there still adult games on Steam?
Yes. Many adult-only games are still sold on Steam, but the rules are stricter and enforcement is less predictable than before 2025.
Will I lose adult games I already bought on Steam?
Games removed from the store generally stay in the libraries of people who bought them, but they can't be bought again. Keep local backups of anything that matters to you.