Valve has updated its Steam platform for Australian users with a new proof-of-age verification system, a requirement mandated by Australian law for accessing games classified as R18+. This law came into effect in March, but Valve's chosen method of compliance has proven restrictive.
Unlike systems employed by PlayStation and Xbox, which offer multiple verification options, Steam will only accept ownership of a valid credit card as proof of age. Anecdotal reports suggest that debit cards and PayPal are not sufficient for this verification. The age of the Steam account itself, regardless of how long it has been active, does not bypass this requirement.
Australian users attempting to view the store page for an R18+ rated game on Steam will now encounter a message stating: "Valve is required by the Age-Restricted Material App Distribution Services Code to verify that you are 18 or older before accessing mature content. If you wish to do so, please add a valid Australian credit card to your account and afterwards update the Mature Content Preferences."
This policy overlooks the reality that a significant portion of the Australian population, particularly younger adults, do not possess credit cards. Recent data indicates that only about half of Australian consumers own a credit card, with adoption rates as low as a quarter among individuals aged 18 to 24. The necessity of an active credit card, even for users who do not intend to make purchases with it, has been criticized as an outdated and inconvenient approach, especially given the prevalence of alternative online payment methods. Valve has been contacted for comment regarding this implementation.