Australian Age Checks

Valve is introducing a stricter proof-of-age requirement for Australian Steam users seeking access to R18+ games and store pages. Reports indicate that the platform now relies on linking a credit card to confirm adulthood, rather than accepting an account’s stated birth date, its age, or a standard bank debit card. Users who cannot complete that check may be prevented from viewing restricted listings or purchasing the affected titles.

The change has drawn attention because credit cards are not universally held in Australia, leaving some adults without a supported way to verify their age. It also raises questions about privacy, accessibility, and whether a payment card is an appropriate proxy for identity or age, particularly for users who deliberately avoid credit products. The reports focus on Steam’s Australian storefront and the practical consequences for customers, rather than on a broader change to age ratings for games themselves. Valve’s approach highlights the tension between regulatory pressure to keep age-restricted content away from minors and the risk that verification systems can exclude legitimate adult users.