Valve Now Requires UK Steam Users to Verify Age with Credit Cards

Valve has quietly rolled out a new requirement for UK Steam users: anyone wanting to access games or content flagged as ‘mature’ must now verify their age with a credit card.

The change comes as part of compliance with the UK’s Online Safety Act, which has pushed digital platforms to adopt more rigorous age-assurance systems.

Unlike other companies leaning on AI-driven tools or third-party ID checks, Valve has chosen a simple route: credit card validation. In the UK, individuals must be 18 or older to own a credit card, making it a straightforward measure to confirm adulthood. Valve also argues this approach offers greater privacy, since the system only checks payment credentials already widely used for purchases on Steam, without sharing browsing or content history with banks or third parties.

For users who already have a registered credit card on file, the change may go completely unnoticed. But for younger players or those without a personal card, access to mature content will now be locked behind this barrier. The shift became noticeable late last week, when UK players reported being blocked from mature store pages until verification was completed.

The UK’s regulator Ofcom has explicitly endorsed credit card checks as an effective safeguard, citing their mandatory age threshold. Other gaming and modding platforms, such as Nexus Mods, have also confirmed they are preparing similar systems, while titles like Rockstar’s GTA Online are widely expected to follow. The broader trend suggests this won’t be limited to Valve, but part of a wave of changes reshaping online access across Europe.

The move has sparked mixed reactions among players. Some applaud Valve for adopting what seems the least intrusive method, while others worry it represents another step toward government overreach and tighter digital control. The debate highlights the tension between child protection laws and fears of creeping surveillance – something that’s unlikely to fade soon.