Upcoming vampire RPG Nighthawks has been removed from Steam search results and delisted in several countries due to Valve classifying it as Adults Only. Publisher Wadjet Eye Games and developer Richard Cobbett have expressed concern, stating that the game's depictions of sex and nudity are mild and that the classification is "very bad news."
Dave Gilbert, head of Wadjet Eye Games, explained on Bluesky that Valve's classification has excluded Nighthawks from searches, adding that "Valve is under the impression that this game is way sexier than it actually is." He further commented that Valve is "basically treating Nighthawks like a porn game!"
Games classified as Adults Only on Steam are not visible in search results by default. Users must log in, verify their age, and adjust content settings to see them. This classification can also lead to games being removed from sale entirely in certain countries. For Nighthawks, this means it is no longer available in markets like Germany.
Richard Cobbett, the creator of Nighthawks, stated that while vampires are inherently suggestive and the game is mature, its content regarding nudity and sex is "very mild." He described the content as often comedic and less explicit than what is shown on HBO. Specific examples included a few "butt shots" and censored elements primarily related to companion romances, which typically involve tasteful fade-to-blacks rather than explicit scenes.
Nighthawks is not the first game to face scrutiny under Valve's updated adult content policies. In July, the indie adventure game Future? No thanks! experienced a delay due to a lengthy review process triggered by its depiction of nudity. That game was eventually released after the review process concluded in its favor.
The ambiguity in Valve's rules contributes to these issues, as the company requires developers to age-gate mature content but does not explicitly define the line between mature and adult. Further complicating matters, a rule added last year prohibits content that may violate the standards of payment processors and internet providers, particularly certain kinds of adult-only content.
Cobbett expressed hope that Valve will reconsider its decision, stating that players who are not scandalized by content in games like Dragon Age will not find Nighthawks overly explicit. He believes the game's classification will be quickly reversed so it can launch as planned on September 22. PC Gamer has reached out to Valve for comment.