Mastercard denies pressuring sport platforms, Valve tells a unique story

The outcry after a current market crackdown on video games with grownup content material, seemingly as a result of stress from cost processors, prompted Mastercard to launch a quick assertion Friday pushing again in opposition to current headlines.

“Mastercard has not evaluated any sport or required restrictions of any exercise on sport creator websites and platforms, opposite to media stories and allegations,” the corporate stated, including, “On the identical time, we require retailers to have applicable controls to make sure Mastercard playing cards can’t be used for illegal purchases, together with unlawful grownup content material.”

This follows an open letter by the advocacy group Collective Shout addressed to executives at Paypal, Mastercard, Visa, and different firms, criticizing them for permitting the sale of “No Mercy” and different video games that depict rape, incest, and baby sexual abuse.

Within the following weeks, Steam introduced that it might ban video games that violate the foundations of its “cost processors and associated card networks and banks.” Then Itch.io stated it was eradicating video games with grownup content material from its browse and search pages whereas conducting a broader audit.

Whereas Mastercard’s assertion appears to undermine the narrative that cost and card firms had been those pressuring the sport marketplaces, Steam proprietor Valve responded with a press release of its personal, offered to PC Gamer and different gaming websites.

Based on Valve, “Mastercard didn’t talk with Valve immediately, regardless of our request to take action. Mastercard communicated with cost processors and their buying banks. Fee processors communicated this with Valve, and we replied by outlining Steam’s coverage since 2018 of trying to distribute video games which are authorized for distribution.”

Valve stated its response was “rejected” by the cost processors, who famous the “threat to the Mastercard model” and pointed to a Mastercard rule in opposition to “unlawful or brand-damaging transactions.”

In the meantime, Itch.io stated that it’s now re-indexing free video games with grownup content material whereas negotiating with cost processors together with Stripe, which for its half stated it’s “unable to help sexually express content material” as a result of “banking companions.”