Steam now requires Australian users to have a credit card to purchase R18+ games, and no, a simple bank debit card won't work
If you don't have a credit card, you don't play adult games.
Valve has introduced a new requirement for Australian Steam users to have a credit card in order to purchase games rated R18+. This decision came as no surprise, as both PlayStation and Xbox had already implemented similar measures, and there are legal consequences for non-compliance, with fines potentially reaching AU$50 million.
Unlike the other two platforms, which offer multiple options for age verification, Valve has only one: a credit card. It's worth noting that a debit card won't suffice, as it doesn't use money that the user doesn't already possess. While it may seem logical that Australians, who must be 18 to obtain a credit card, would be able to use one for this purpose, there are other factors to consider.
Some adults may not qualify for a credit card due to insufficient income, poor credit history, or personal preferences. As a result, Valve will not sell R18+ video games to them. Attempting to view the store page of an R18+ game results in a message stating that Valve requires age verification before granting access to mature content.
The message further instructs users to add a valid Australian credit card to their account before updating their mature content preferences. For those seeking alternative solutions, it's still possible to buy Steam keys for R18+ games from third-party sellers like Fanatical and Green Man Gaming, then redeem them on Steam. Although this workaround is available, age verification methods are seldom perfect and may raise privacy and security concerns, as highlighted by companies such as Persona.
Valve has reached out to inquire about potential future changes to their age verification process for Australian users.
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